Department for Transport

Trains: Hydrogen

Dehenna Davison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to include hydrogen trains in the Transport decarbonisation plan; and what his timeframe is for ordering the first hydrogen train fleet.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government is developing an ambitious Transport Decarbonisation Plan to achieve net zero emissions across all modes of transport. The Network Rail-led Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) makes recommendations about whether hydrogen or battery trains or electrification will likely be the best way to decarbonise each part of the network. TDNS will inform the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and the procurement of rolling stock. The Department is supporting work to understand and develop hydrogen trains, so that they can be introduced smoothly onto lines where and when they are appropriate.

Trains: Hydrogen

Dehenna Davison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of trialling hydrogen trains on the Tees Valley line to help decarbonise the railway network.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government believes that there will be a role for hydrogen trains in decarbonising the railway. My Department is considering the case for running hydrogen trains in Teesside.

Roads: Cycling

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money has been spent on upgrading roads with provisions for cyclists in (a) Wakefield, (b) West Yorkshire and and (c) England.

Chris Heaton-Harris: On the 9th May 2020 the Government announced a £2 billion five-year package of funding for cycling and walking. This included a £225 million Active Travel Fund for English Local Authorities in the current financial year to enable them to deliver new safe cycling and walking measures in their areas. West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) was allocated over £12.5 million of this funding. Decisions on how much of this funding to spend in which parts of its region are matters for WYCA. The Spending Review in 2020 confirmed that over £250 million of dedicated funding will be made available for cycling and walking in 2021/22, and decisions on how the rest of the £2 billion will be spent will be taken as part of the next multi-year Spending Review.

Roads

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many miles of road in England are (a) conventional motorways, (b) controlled motorways, (c) dynamic hard shoulder, (d) all-lane running and (e) strategic road network.

Rachel Maclean: The latest complete figures available for motorway road classes are shown in the table below. These figures have been compiled using the different data sources which have been outlined in the footnotes for the table:Road Class2019[1]a) Conventional Motorway1,564b) Controlled Motorway141c) Dynamic Hard Shoulder63d) All Lane Running141e) Total SRN [2]4,519Source: Highways England scheme information and DfTRoad Length Statistics on the Strategic Road Network in England DfT Road Length Statistics on the Strategic Road Network in England

Blue Badge Scheme: Theft

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to introduce an alternative means of registration and identification for disabled car users to eliminate the problem of blue badge disabled parking discs being taken from cars; and if he will make a statement.

Rachel Maclean: The Department of Transport has no plans to make changes to the legislation that governs the Blue Badge Scheme. The Department works closely with local authorities to improve the consistency of local enforcement to tackle fraud and misuse of the Blue Badge Scheme, including the use of powers to tackle abuse provided in the Disabled Persons Parking Badges Act 2013, such as the power to retain and cancel badges found to be stolen.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Postal Services

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has held with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on (a) the time frames from the (i) postage of a notification to (ii) implementation of a driving license revocation and (b) whether the DVLA has made an assessment of the potential merits of using guaranteed delivery day postage systems for such revocation notifications.

Rachel Maclean: When the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) determines that a driving licence should be revoked for medical reasons, the law requires that the notice of revocation must be served in writing to the licence holder. The letter notifying the individual of the revocation is sent by first class post and the licence is revoked either one or two working days after the letter is sent, depending on the time the letter is dispatched. The Royal Mail’s current service aim is to deliver over 90 per cent of first class post by the next working day, including Saturdays. The DVLA already makes allowances for Bank Holidays and non-working days. The DVLA has considered other guaranteed delivery day postage systems. However, these require someone to be at the address and to sign for the item which is not always possible. Sending these letters by first class post ensures delivery is made irrespective of whether anyone is available to receive the letter.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: North East

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Eastern leg of HS2 goes ahead.

Andrew Stephenson: The Government is committed to ensuring the East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North East reap the benefits of high-speed services. The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP), will consider the sequencing and delivery of HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and other rail investment projects to ensure the benefits of these investments are delivered to passengers and communities more quickly. We will publish the IRP this Spring.

Civil Servants: Location

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of the relocation of his Department's civil servants to (a) Birmingham and (b) Leeds in each forthcoming financial year.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department’s strategy for growing its presence in Birmingham and Leeds is focussed on relocating roles, not individuals, recruiting local talent in and around Birmingham and Leeds. Additionally, existing staff will be able to relocate to Birmingham and Leeds on a voluntary basis, continuing in their current role from a new location. The cost of doing so is dependent on a number of factors including the proportionate mix of new starters and the relocation of existing staff, and the required changes in estate. We are working with Government Property colleagues to source office solutions in both locations which may require different short and medium-term options. Separately we have actively consolidated our London estate as flexible ways of working lead us to having less reliance on traditional office space. Better use of technology and innovative working practices will enable us to continue working effectively from multiple locations and minimise travel costs between offices. The relocation of 650 roles to Birmingham and Leeds will support the local economies, creating jobs and supporting inward investment, as part of Levelling Up.

Transport for London Financial Review

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse was of the KPMG report examining Transport for London’s finances that was commissioned in June 2020.

Rachel Maclean: Costs associated with the Government Led Review of Transport for London’s financial position totalled £1,216,107. This expenditure is critical to providing evidence to support Government’s policy making, including the funding settlement with TfL from October 2020, worth up to £1.7 billion. This is part of the overall extraordinary government support of up to £3.3 billion for TfL to date.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Euston Station

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of reducing the number of HS2 platforms planned at Euston Station from 11 to 10 on the (a) overall capacity on (i) HS2 and (ii) the HS2 Eastern route and (c) reliability and resilience of HS2 services.

Andrew Stephenson: Work is ongoing to develop an optimised design and delivery strategy for Euston Station, including consideration of opportunities, efficiencies and scope reductions to address identified cost pressures. As part of this work, the Department and HS2 Ltd have, with the involvement of other partners, been investigating whether building the HS2 station in a single phase would speed up delivery and reduce the overall cost. This work is currently indicating that moving to a slightly smaller, simpler HS2 station at Euston would have some benefits in terms of terms of reducing costs and risks. This work will help inform the way forward, with a final decision expected in Spring 2021. Initial HS2 Ltd analysis indicates that moving to a slightly smaller HS2 station at Euston maintains the station infrastructure capacity to run all of the services in the planned HS2 Phase 2b Train Service Specification. The future development of the final HS2 timetable, in due course, will have close regard to optimising resilience and capacity.

Railways

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase rail connectivity between Nottingham and the rest of the UK.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We are always looking to improve rail connectivity and am pleased to say that the new Midland Mainline timetable in May will reduce journey times for peak trains between Nottingham and London St. Pancras by up to 10 minutes.

Department for Education

GCE A-level and GCSE: Assessments

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what process his Department has put in place to allow private candidates to be assessed effectively following the cancellation of GCSE and A Level exams in 2021.

Nick Gibb: The Department and Ofqual have ensured there is a clear and accessible route for private candidates to receive a grade this year, at the same time as other candidates.Private candidates can work with a centre to be assessed on a range of evidence, which could include evidence from an established educational provider and the board-provided assessment materials. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) have issued guidance for centres about assessing private candidates, taking into account their different circumstances. These candidates should have the same opportunity as other students to be assessed on what they were taught, and centres can conduct assessments remotely if needed. Further guidance on assessing all candidates (including private candidates) will be published before the end of March.We are working with the sector to ensure there are enough centres available to support private candidates, and JCQ will publish a list of available centres by the end of March, giving private candidates the opportunity to find a centre at a similar cost to a normal year. The exam boards have committed that private candidates will not be charged late fees if entries are received by 26 April. To support centres with the additional requirements of assessing private candidates this year, and avoid the cost being passed on to candidates, we are providing a grant for centres to claim £200 per private candidate entry. The Government is encouraging all available exams centres to sign up to help these candidates achieve their qualifications in this exceptional year.

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring additional protection measures to prevent the transmission of covid-19 in SEN schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department continues to work closely with other Government Departments throughout its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care, as well as stakeholders across the sector. We continue to work to ensure that our policy is based on the latest scientific and medical advice, to continue to develop comprehensive guidance based on the PHE-endorsed ‘system of controls’ and to understand the impact and effectiveness of these measures on staff, pupils and parents.The Department has recently published updated guidance for schools, including special schools and other specialist settings. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings.As the guidance outlines, implementing the system of controls in line with a wider risk assessment creates a safer environment for staff and pupils where the risk of transmission of the infection is substantially reduced. All elements of the system of controls are essential, but the way schools, colleges and nurseries implement the elements will differ based on their individual circumstances. Schools, colleges and nurseries have duties to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils and students to support them to access education successfully.PHE advice remains that the way to control COVID-19 is the same, even with the current new variants. We are further strengthening the measures to provide more reassurance and to help decrease the disruption that the outbreak causes to education. We will keep all measures under review and update guidance as necessary.

Question

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the fund for exceptional costs associated with covid-19 for the period from March to July 2020, how many applications were (a) awarded and (b) rejected by constituency and local authority; and what the value was of those applications (i) awarded and (ii) rejected by constituency and local authority.

Nick Gibb: The Department has provided additional funding to schools, on top of existing budgets, to cover unavoidable costs incurred between March and July 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak that could not be met from their budgets.Schools were eligible to claim for funding for: increased premises related costs associated with keeping open over the Easter and summer half term holidays; support for free school meals for eligible children who were not in school, where schools were not using the national voucher scheme; and additional cleaning costs required due to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, over and above the cost of existing cleaning arrangements.To date, the Department has paid schools £138 million for all claims within the published scope of the fund, across both application windows. In the first application window we offered the opportunity for schools to flag other exceptional costs not included under the agreed categories, which were subject to further assessment. Schools applied for £42 million of additional costs which were not paid. We made it clear that we could not guarantee any claims beyond the published scope of the fund would be paid. It is reasonable for taxpayers to expect that public funding is targeted towards those who most need it. Therefore, the fund was targeted towards the costs we identified as the biggest barrier to schools operating as they needed to between March and July 2020 to support vulnerable children and children of critical workers.Over 15,500 schools applied for funding through the exceptional costs fund, and to date we have made more than 19,000 payments from the fund. Around 450 schools did not apply for any of the eligible categories of funding and have not received payments.The Department will publish a full breakdown of allocations from the exceptional costs fund, by school, in due course.

Remote Education: ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to issue new guidance on the use of technology in schools for self-isolating pupils and staff.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure fair competition for digital platforms which provide technology to schools.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of continuing the scheme of providing disadvantaged pupils with devices and other technology post-lockdown.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have used (a) allocated devices, and (b) digital platforms to deliver teaching; and what platforms schools have used to deliver online teaching.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many digital devices have been allocated to disadvantaged pupils during national restrictions since March 2020.

Nick Gibb: The Department is providing over £400 million to support access to remote education and online social care. We are making available 1.3 million laptops and tablets to schools, colleges, trusts and local authorities, supporting disadvantaged children and young people who would not otherwise have access to a digital device.As of 15 March 2021, over 1.2 million laptops and tablets have been delivered. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/laptops-and-tablets-progress-data-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak. The Department has been publishing this data every week during term time, and the next publication will be Tuesday 23 March.Once received, the laptops and tablets are owned by schools, trusts, local authorities or further education providers, which they can lend to children and young people who need them and are intended to enable schools to provide remote education. In the longer term, the Department expects that schools and colleges will continue to make effective use of the devices they have received.Through the Department’s grant funded, Digital Platforms Programme, over 5,000 schools are now accessing either a Google or Microsoft digital platform for remote learning. Microsoft and Google platforms were chosen as they are free to use to the education sector and had the unified technology and support to set up and deliver effective remote education provision. The primary reason for selecting the Microsoft and Google platforms was that they are free to use to the education sector. Both platforms also have features and functionalities that are designed to be used for communication and collaboration that can assist teachers, pupils and students in remote education. The Department plans to examine the broader effect of the interventions we have put in place to support children and young people to continue their education during the COVID-19 outbreak.From the 8 March, attendance is mandatory for all pupils of compulsory school age. Schools affected by the remote education temporary continuity direction are still required to provide remote education for pupils where their attendance would be contrary to government guidance or legislation around COVID-19. This includes, for example, where such guidance means that a class, group, or small number of pupils need to self-isolate, or that clinically extremely vulnerable children need to shield.Where needed, schools are expected to offer pupils three to five hours of remote education. This includes either recorded or live direct teaching alongside time for pupils to work independently to complete assignments that have been set.The Department has recently updated guidance and resources for schools around safeguarding and delivery of remote education, which can be accessed via Get Help with Remote Education available here: https://get-help-with-remote-education.education.gov.uk/safeguarding.

Outdoor Education: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2021 to Question 159265 on Outdoor Education: Coronavirus, how much notice he plans to give suppliers of such services of the date on which they can reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased; and if he will make it his policy to permit the resumption of such outdoor activities as soon as is safely practicable.

Nick Gibb: Schools are advised against all educational visits at this time. The Department is working on advice for schools and colleges on the planning and booking of residential visits when it is safe to do so and in line with the Government’s roadmap to recovery, as set out here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021. The advice will be published shortly.

Education: UK Trade with EU

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions have taken place between UK and EU representatives on the effect of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on export opportunities for the UK EdTech sector in Europe.

Nick Gibb: The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement guarantees that UK investors and service suppliers will be able to access the EU’s markets and will not be subject to discriminatory barriers to trade. The agreement includes gold standard rules on services and investment liberalisation.The Department is engaging with education exporters to help the sector understand and adapt to these new trading conditions, including those within the EdTech sector.

Students: Coronavirus

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure students catch up with learning lost as a result of the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed to helping children and young people make up education lost as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.In January 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, committed to work with parents, teachers, and pupils to develop a long-term plan to help pupils make up their education over the course of this Parliament. As an immediate step to support nurseries, schools, and colleges, on 24 February the Department committed an additional £700 million to support summer schools, tutoring, early language interventions and additional support to schools to help pupils make up their education. This builds on the £1 billion from last year and brings the total available to £1.7 billion.The Department has appointed Sir Kevan Collins as the Education Recovery Commissioner to advise on the approach for education recovery and the development of a long term plan to help pupils make up their education over the course of this Parliament. Sir Kevan will engage with parents, pupils, and teachers in the development of this broader approach and review how evidence-based interventions can be used to address the impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on education.

Remote Education: ICT

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether provision of technology to schools for remote learning during the covid-19 outbreak is subject to open competition.

Nick Gibb: For the initial programme tender, the Department concluded that a direct award offered the best chance of securing devices quickly in a global market of high demand and limited supply. A contract was awarded to Computacenter (UK) Limited through an existing Crown Commercial Service framework for technology products and associated services under PPN 01/20. The Department also sought assurance about the ability of Computacenter to deliver against the contract from Information and Communications Technology industry representatives.All subsequent procurements for devices and 4G routers were awarded following competitive tendering on Crown Commercial Service Frameworks. 38 approved Crown Commercial Service suppliers were given the opportunity to bid for the laptop and tablet contracts. Providing options in device brand and model also contributed to achieving value for money driving optimum competition within the market.We believe that this approach struck the best balance between achieving value for money while ensuring that devices were available for children to use as quickly as possible.All Department contracts awarded to suppliers of £10,000 or more are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.

Pupils: Hearing Impairment

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his policy that education setting providers should make all necessary reasonable adjustments to ensure that deaf children are not disadvantaged by the use of face coverings in classrooms during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: The Department has recently published updated guidance to support the full opening to education from 8 March, which includes updated advice on face coverings. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-coronavirus-covid-19-operational-guidance and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education.As the guidance outlines, where pupils and students in Year 7 and above are educated, we recommend that face coverings should be worn by adults, pupils and students when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained.In addition, the Department now also recommend that in schools where pupils and students in Year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn in classrooms unless social distancing can be maintained.In primary schools, the Department recommends that face coverings should be worn by staff and adult visitors in situations where social distancing between adults is not possible (for example, when moving around in corridors and communal areas). Children in primary school do not need to wear a face covering.The Department is recommending these additional precautionary measures for a time limited period until Easter. As with all measures, we will keep this under review and update guidance as necessary.Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings. This includes people who cannot put on, wear, or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability, or if you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate. The same legal exemptions that apply to the wearing of face coverings in shops and on public transport also apply in schools, colleges and nurseries.Schools, colleges and nurseries have duties to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils and students to support them to access education successfully. We have made this point clear in guidance.

Primary Education: Coronavirus

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance has been provided to Primary Schools on the wearing of facemasks by teaching staff within a classroom setting.

Nick Gibb: As new evidence or data emerges, the Government updates its advice accordingly to ensure that all our schools and colleges have the right safety measures in place.The Department recently published updated guidance for schools to support the return to full attendance from 8 March 2021, which includes updated advice on face coverings. The guidance can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-coronavirus-covid-19-operational-guidance.As our updated guidance outlines, in primary schools, face coverings should be worn by staff and adult visitors in situations where social distancing between adults is not possible, for example, when moving around in corridors and communal areas. Children in primary school do not need to wear a face covering.Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings. This applies to those who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability, or if you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate. The same exemptions should be applied in schools, and we would expect teachers and other staff to be sensitive to those needs.We continue to work closely with Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care and stakeholders across the sector to ensure that our policy is based on the latest scientific and medical advice.These measures will be in place until Easter. We will keep this under review and update guidance at that point.

Schools: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with headteachers on ensuring a sufficient supply of face coverings during the covid-19 outbreak from 8 March 2021.

Nick Gibb: The Department continues to work closely with other Government Departments throughout its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), as well as stakeholders across the sector. We continue to work to ensure that our policy is based on the latest scientific and medical advice, to develop comprehensive guidance based on the PHE-endorsed ‘system of controls’ and to understand the impact and effectiveness of these measures on staff, pupils and parents.We recently published updated guidance for schools to support the return to full attendance from 8 March. This guidance includes updated advice on face coverings and how to access them. Due to the increasing use of face coverings in wider society, staff and pupils are already likely to have access to face coverings. In our guidance, we recommend that all schools should have a small contingency stock of face coverings available, in case an individual has forgotten or damaged their own. The guidance can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-coronavirus-covid-19-operational-guidance.Within our guidance, we signpost to the wider DHSC guidance on face coverings. This guidance outlines what a face covering is, the reasons for using a face covering, when to wear a face covering and exemptions. In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, a face covering is something which safely covers the nose and mouth. This includes reusable or single-use face coverings, a scarf, bandana, religious garment or hand-made cloth coverings. The face covering must securely fit around the side of the face. Face coverings are not classified as personal protective equipment, they are instead largely intended to protect other people (rather than the person wearing the face covering) against the spread of COVID-19 infection. The DHSC guidance can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own.PHE has also published guidance on how to make a simple face covering. This guidance can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering.To support the return to full attendance and to ensure maximum compliance with the system of controls, DHSC are currently in the process of distributing a delivery of between 5,000 and 7,500 units of free face coverings to all secondary schools and further education institutions for use as contingency stock.

Pupils: Coronavirus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that children whose parents do not consent to them being covid-19 tested at school are not prevented from attending school.

Nick Gibb: COVID-19 testing is voluntary, but strongly recommended to all who are eligible as this helps to reduce the spread in schools. Alongside the vaccine, washing hands, wearing face coverings, and maintaining social distancing, rapid testing plays a vital role in reducing transmission rates. No pupil should be denied education on the grounds that they have not been COVID-19 tested at school.

Breakfast Clubs: Finance

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of funding universal breakfast clubs to give every child a healthy breakfast, more time to play with their friends and extra time for teachers to provide targeted catch-up support.

Nick Gibb: This Government wants pupils to be healthy and well nourished, and encourages pupils to adopt a healthy balanced diet and healthy life choices, through school funding, legislation and guidance. Up to £24 million will be available to extend our support for school breakfast clubs until 2023, to make sure thousands of children in disadvantaged areas have a healthy start to the day. Further details on the invitation to tender for the delivery of the future programme can be found through the following link: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html (under ‘View Opportunities’).We know that breakfast clubs can bring a wide range of benefits for children. An evaluation by the Education Endowment Foundation found that supporting schools to run a free of charge, universal breakfast club before school delivered an average of 2 months’ additional progress for pupils in Key Stage 1 with moderate to low security. Breakfast club schools also saw an improvement in pupil behaviour and attendance.The Department’s guidance has been updated to make clear that providers who run community activities, holiday clubs, breakfast or after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school provision for children, are able to continue to open for both outdoor and indoor provision, provided that they follow the protective measures set out by the Government in this guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak. Parents and carers are only able to access settings for certain essential purposes. Providers should only offer indoor and outdoor face-to-face provision to vulnerable children and young people where the provision is reasonably necessary to enable their parents and carers to work, search for work or undertake education or training; attend a medical appointment, address a medical need or attend a support group; be used by electively home educating parents as part of their arrangements for their child to receive a suitable full-time education; or be used as part of their efforts to obtain a regulated qualification, meet the entry requirements for an education institution, or to undertake exams and assessments. The Government is committed to helping children and young people make up education lost as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is why we have invested £1.7 billion to give early years, schools and colleges support to help pupils get back on track, including additional funding for tutoring, early language support and summer schools. We have also appointed Sir Kevan Collins as Education Recovery Commissioner who will advise Ministers on the approach for education recovery, with a particular focus on helping pupils catch up on lost education as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Further Education and Higher Education: Antisemitism

Alicia Kearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) higher and (b) further education establishments have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism.

Michelle Donelan: The government has asked all English higher education (HE) providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS) to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The IHRA definition is an important tool in tackling antisemitism. Adopting this widely recognised definition sends a strong signal that HE providers take these issues seriously. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, wrote to HE leaders most recently in October 2020 to reiterate the importance of the definition and to urge all providers to consider adopting it.The government is pleased to report that at least 91 providers have now adopted the definition (78 are HE providers and 13 are further education providers), with many more preparing to adopt the definition. The decision on adoption of the definition rests with individual providers. However, the government will continue to urge them to adopt the definition and will ensure that HE is a genuinely fulfilling and welcoming experience for everyone.I am proud that so many providers have taken a positive step towards eradicating antisemitism by adopting the IHRA definition, but further progress is still needed to stamp it out. This is why, in the Secretary of State’s most recent strategic guidance letter to the OfS, the government asked the OfS to undertake a scoping exercise to identify providers who are reluctant to adopt the definition. The letter asked providers to consider introducing mandatory reporting of antisemitic incident numbers by providers, with the aim of ensuring a robust evidence base, which the OfS can then use to effectively regulate in this area.The Secretary of State also asked the OfS to ensure that, if antisemitic incidents do occur at a provider, they should consider if it is relevant in a particular case whether the provider has adopted the IHRA definition when considering which sanctions, including monetary penalties, would be appropriate to apply.We will continue to work across the government to ensure that racism and religious hatred of any kind is not tolerated anywhere, including in our world-leading universities.

Children in Care

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the upcoming ban on unregulated accommodation for children aged under 16, whether children in care who are settled in children’s homes will be required to move out before they formally leave care at 18.

Vicky Ford: This government firmly believes that every child in the care system deserves to live in a high-quality setting that meets their needs and keeps them safe. Anything less is unacceptable. We are clear that independent and semi-independent provision can be the right option for some older children, but it must be of high quality, and the young person must be ready for the level of independence that it promotes. As more older children are entering the care system, it is important that we ensure that there is a high-quality option available to facilitate the development of their independence, as they prepare for adult life and for leaving care.We are introducing national standards for independent and semi-independent settings for children in care and care leavers aged 16 and 17 to raise the bar for this provision. This will work towards ensuring that local authorities can be confident when making placements in this provision and will strengthen our ability to take action against poor providers and, most importantly, will ensure that our children and young people are safe and have the best possible chances of success in life.These settings, however, cannot meet the needs of children under the age of 16. These children are too young to be placed in independent and semi-independent provision. They should be placed in foster care or children’s homes, and that is why we are banning the practice of placing children under 16 in unregulated settings from September.The ban on placing children under 16 in unregulated settings is in no way intended to create a default position at which children are placed in semi-independent or independent provision on their 16th birthday, as many of these young people’s needs will be best met by a placement in foster carers or in children’s homes. Local authorities have statutory duties to meet the needs of the children whom they look after and they should continue to place young people in settings that best meet their needs.

Family Hubs

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the number of family hubs that (a) opened and (b) closed in each local authority area in each year since 2010.

Vicky Ford: The department has not made such an estimate. The number of family hubs in each locality is determined by local councils in consultation with their local communities.

School Meals: Finance

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding he plans to allocate to school breakfast provision in each of the next three years; whether the sugar tax levy will be used to fund that programme; how many schools that programme will provide for; and what the eligibility criteria will be for that funding.

Vicky Ford: Up to £24 million will be available to extend our support for school breakfast clubs until 2023. For the financial year 2021-22, £9 million has been allocated (two school terms). For the financial year 2022-23 (three school terms), we currently estimate that the contract would require £11 million. For 2023-24 (one term), we estimate that £3-4 million will be required.The Soft Drinks Industry Levy, announced in 2016, provides funds for investment in a number of children’s health initiatives including the National Schools Breakfast Programme from March 2018.We are aiming to provide funding to around 2500 schools. The department has put out an invitation to tender for the delivery of the future programme, which can be accessed here under ‘View Opportunities’: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html.

Universities: Antisemitism

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all universities in England adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.

Michelle Donelan: The government has asked all English higher education (HE) providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS) to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The IHRA definition is an important tool in tackling antisemitism. Adopting this widely recognised definition sends a strong signal that HE providers take these issues seriously. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, wrote to HE leaders most recently in October 2020 to reiterate the importance of the definition and to urge all providers to consider adopting it.The government is pleased to report that at least 91 providers have now adopted the definition, with many more preparing to adopt. The decision on adoption of the definition rests with individual providers, but the government will continue to urge them to adopt the definition and ensure that HE is a genuinely fulfilling and welcoming experience for everyone.I am proud that so many providers have taken a positive step towards eradicating antisemitism by adopting the IHRA definition, but further progress is still needed to stamp it out. This is why, in my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education’s most recent strategic guidance letter to the OfS, the government asked the OfS to undertake a scoping exercise, to identify providers which are reluctant to adopt the definition. The letter asked them to consider introducing mandatory reporting of antisemitic incident numbers by providers, with the aim of ensuring a robust evidence base, which the OfS can then use to effectively regulate in this area.The Secretary of State also asked the OfS to ensure that, if antisemitic incidents do occur at a provider, they should consider if it is relevant in a particular case whether the provider has adopted the IHRA definition when considering what sanctions, including monetary penalties, would be appropriate to apply.We will continue to work across government to ensure that racism and religious hatred of any kind is not tolerated anywhere, including in our world-leading universities.

Children: Social Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Written Statement on Children's Social Care Update, Official Report, HCWS835, published 9 March 2021, if he will publish the data his Department holds on the use by local authorities of the flexibilities provided for by the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.

Vicky Ford: In February 2021, the department undertook a public consultation to seek views on extending and amending the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.The consultation document included the monitoring information obtained from local authorities on the use of the flexibilities. On 9 March 2021, the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 were laid and the government response to the consultation was published. The consultation document and the response can be accessed at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-adoption-and-children-coronavirus-amendment-no-2-regulations-2020.

Northern College Barnsley: Finance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will provide additional support to Northern College in Barnsley to help ensure the future sustainability of residential provision at that College.

Gillian Keegan: I refer the hon. Member for Barnsley Central to the answer I gave on 4 March 2021 to Question 160672, which is available here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-03-01/160672.Due to concerns with Northern College’s future financial position, the Further Education Commissioner undertook a diagnostic assessment at the College on 15 and 16 February 2021.The Commissioner and the Education and Skills Funding Agency are now working with the leadership at Northern College as they consider options to improve their financial situation. They will also work with Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, who will provide most of the College’s funding from August 2021 through the devolved Adult Education Budget, to ensure they are closely sighted on steps taken to try and secure a sustainable financial future for the College.It will be for the two Combined Authorities to agree the value of the Adult Education Budget that Northern College will receive in future academic years. This income will be key to the financial sustainability of the College moving forward.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Social Media

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many officials in (a) his private office and (b) the wider Department have been allocated to the production and promotion of online content for use on social media in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Amanda Solloway: The Digital Communications Team has included approximately 14 members of staff responsible for producing and promoting social media content between 2018 and 2021. We cannot quantify how many other staff in the wider Communications Directorate or wider department as it’s something that many people do as a smaller part of their role.The Cabinet Office is continuously tracking and reviewing spending on cross-government campaigns, including Covid-19, to ensure our communications are efficient. We will not spend more than is needed to be effective.The Cabinet Office publishes expenditure, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling monthly basis on gov.uk as part of routine government transparency arrangements.

Boilers: Government Assistance

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what financial support the Government is providing to low-income households that need new or replacement boilers.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Energy Company Obligation scheme (ECO), worth £640 million per annum, sets an obligation on larger energy suppliers to install energy efficiency and heating measures in the homes of low income and vulnerable households in Great Britain. A capped amount of replacement boilers is allowed, though there is no cap when certain insulation measures are installed alongside. Under the current iteration of ECO, over 157,000 boilers had been installed up to the end of December 2020. Furthermore, under the Warm Home Discount (WHD), the Industry Initiatives element of the scheme allows suppliers to support low income and vulnerable households through a range of measures, including replacement boilers in certain circumstances.

Climate Change: Carbon Emissions

Siobhan Baillie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how the (a) UK and (b) Global carbon budget informs the Government's Climate Change mitigation strategy.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Government’s independent advisers, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) advised that reaching net zero by 2050 is the right target for the UK, which is consistent with the UK’s contribution to reducing global emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. We followed their advice by legislating for net zero in 2019. When setting our carbon budgets, which step down towards our 2050 target, we follow the requirements set out in the Climate Change Act 2008. These include taking account of several matters including “scientific knowledge about climate change” and “circumstances at European and international level”. We will carefully consider the CCC’s advice ahead of setting the sixth carbon budget in legislation later this year. Following the setting of this target, we will be publishing a comprehensive Net Zero Strategy ahead of COP26 which sets out the Government’s vision for how we transition to a net zero economy.

Gyms: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that people are able to cancel their gym memberships during the period of covid-19 restrictions.

Paul Scully: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has produced guidance on rights and responsibilities when contracts such as gym memberships have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds. The CMA has also created a COVID-19 taskforce and set up an online form to enable consumers to report any business they believe is behaving unfairly during the pandemic. Consumers who believe they have been treated unfairly by a business should complete the online form at: https://www.coronavirus-business-complaint.service.gov.uk/. Consumers can also seek advice on their rights from the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, www.citizensadvice.org.uk which offers a free service advising consumers on their rights and how to take complaints forward.

Fossil Fuels: Export Credit Guarantees

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's consultation on Aligning UK international support for the clean energy transition which closed on 8 February 2020, when he plans to announce which option will be used for implementing the policy shift to ending new direct financial or promotional support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Government is considering its response to the consultation and will respond in due course. This includes the Government’s decision on the timing of the policy implementation.

Investment Security Unit

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2021 to Question 164331 on parliamentary scrutiny of the new Investment Security Unit, under what provisions the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee could have oversight of that part of the work of the Unit which will involve (a) interaction with the Intelligence and Security Agencies and (b) consideration of highly classified material not normally made available to parliamentary Select Committees; and what the Government's policy is on effective parliamentary scrutiny of activities of the Unit involving material classified at the level of Top Secret.

Paul Scully: The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee is well-placed to have oversight of the Investment Security Unit. The Committee already provides scrutiny on a number of sensitive areas, such as the civil nuclear programme, and it is well placed to consider how effectively and efficiently the Investment Security Unit is interacting with the business community and investors in delivering the National Security and Investment regime.

Business: Government Assistance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2021 to Question 162599, on Business: Finance, in which of the files on the referenced url is the methodology for calculating the funds paid.

Paul Scully: The link provided in the answer given to Question 162599 was a link to local authority level allocations summary which required you to click through to the guidance released on the methods for calculating allocations for the Additional Restrictions Grant and Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open). The direct links to the relevant guidance is as below. For the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), guidance sets out the original method for allocating funds: ‘Local Authorities will receive a one-off lump sum payment amounting to £20 per head in each eligible Local Authority when LCAL 3 or widespread national restrictions are imposed.’https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/966854/20210304_Additional_Restrictions_Grant_-_LA_guidance.pdf For the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) covering the periods of local restrictions between 1st August to 5th November and 2nd December to 5th January the guidance sets out that funding was allocated on the basis of Valuation Office Agency data on the number of businesses in scope in those areas of England subject to local Covid restrictions for the period in question. Guidance for the 1st August to 5th November period can be found here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/966860/20210304_Local_Restrictions_Support_Grant__OPEN__applicable_1_Aug_-_5_Nov_-_LA_guidance.pdf. Guidance for the 2nd December to 5th January period can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/966858/20210304_Local_Restrictions_Support_Grant__OPEN__applicable_2_December_-_LA_guidance.pdf.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timeframe is for the UK to begin receiving the 50 million doses of variant vaccines secured as part of the partnership with CureVac.

Nadhim Zahawi: We expect deliveries of the vaccines from CureVac later this year, if required. This will be subject to successful clinical trials and regulatory approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Courier Services: Northern Ireland

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of parcel delivery services in implementing new rules in line with the requirements of the Northern Ireland Protocol and new rules brought into operation after the end of the transition period.

Paul Scully: Earlier this month, the Government took several temporary operational steps to avoid disruptive cliff edges which could have affected the delivery of parcel services. These included extending the temporary arrangements that the Government set out on parcels before the end of the transition period, giving further time to parcel operators to prepare for new requirements and minimise the impact on day-to-day lives in Northern Ireland. We remain committed to meeting our obligations in the Northern Ireland Protocol and doing so in a pragmatic and proportionate way, taking full account of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. The Government is continuing to support parcel operators and businesses across sectors to adapt to the new trading arrangements with the EU. It is also working closely with industry and counterparts in the EU to help goods move smoothly and resolve issues quickly.

Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding has been allocated to (a) each organisation and (b) in total through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to date; and how much match funding from industry that fund has generated.

Amanda Solloway: The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) is a mission-oriented funding programme. It brings together the UK’s world-leading research base with highly innovative businesses to solve the major industrial and societal challenges. Since its inception in 2017, the ISCF has allocated £2.8 billion of public funding and has garnered £2.8 billion in co-investment commitments from industry. The ISCF has funded 1,926 unique organisations to date, together these have been awarded grants through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) with a total value of £1,811 million.

Coronavirus: Protective clothing

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has plans to classify scrubs as personal protective equipment.

Paul Scully: Scrubs such as those for use in health care environments do not fall within the definition of personal protective equipment (PPE) set out in the PPE Regulation 2016/425. There are no plans to change the scope of products which fall in the definition. Scrubs are designed to promote a hygienic environment for patients and have not been manufactured to meet the essential health and safety requirements necessary for PPE. Guidance for PPE within the health and care settings can be found within the UK Infection Prevention and Control guidance which is agreed by the UK’s four chief Medical and Nursing Officers and is published by Public Health England.

Insolvency

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many businesses failed in each month of the 2007-08 financial crisis.

Paul Scully: Monthly data on business closures during the 2007-2008 financial crisis are not available. Data on total annual business closures have been provided in the table below, showing annual numbers of business closures between 2006 and 2010. Table: Annual number of business closures, 2006 to 2010, all registered businessesYearNumber of business closures2006207,0002007224,0002008223,0002009277,0002010250,000Source: Office for National Statistics ‘Business Demography, UK: 2011’

Insolvency

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of businesses which have failed in each month since April 2020.

Paul Scully: Monthly data on business closures since April 2020 are not available. Quarterly data on business closures since April 2020 can be provided. The table below contains this information, along with numbers of business closures in each quarter of 2019 and quarter 1 2020 for reference. Table: Quarterly UK business closures, 2019 to 2020, all registered businessesQuarter and YearNumber of business closuresQ1 201985,260Q2 2019101,505Q3 201983,145Q4 201977,815Q1 2020120,235Q2 202093,055Q3 202076,265Q4 2020106,400  Source: Office for National Statistics 'Business demography, quarterly experimental statistics, UK'

Courier Services: Regulation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the scope of the Ofcom Review of Future Regulatory Framework in relation to courier companies.

Paul Scully: Ofcom launched a call for inputs on 11 March 2021 which outlines the main themes it is considering as part of its review of postal regulation. Ofcom intends to publish a full consultation on the future regulation of postal services later this year before concluding its review in 2022.

Coronavirus: Industrial Health and Safety

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the evidential basis was for his decision to allow tradespeople to carry out non-essential works in other people’s home during the the covid-19 lockdown announced on 5 January 2021.

Paul Scully: Government guidance on the current national restrictions enables tradespeople to work in peoples’ homes if it is a necessary part of their job. The Government is clear that businesses in certain sectors can remain open if they can adhere to Safer Working guidance. We continue to keep the guidance under review and will update it in line with new scientific evidence as it arises. When visiting peoples’ homes, tradespeople should follow the guidance and take appropriate Covid-19 secure precautions.

Competition and Markets Authority: Staff

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will place copies of the CMA’s internal reports (a) BAME Performance Ratings Review and (b) Equality Reporting Principles in the Library; and what assessment he has made of the reason for the Senior Civil Service performance management outcomes for BAME staff over the age of 55, and those under the age of 24 and female staff working for the Competition and Markets Authority in the 2019-20 performance year.

Paul Scully: The CMA follows the guidance set out by Civil Service HR for the performance management of Senior Civil Servants (SCS). It comprises individual performance planning and assessment together with personal development. The performance of job holders is assessed by taking account of both ‘what’ they have achieved, and ‘how’ they have achieved it. In the 2019 – 2020 performance year, the CMA had no SCS BAME staff over the age of 55, or under the age of 24. The data relating to the distribution of ratings for male and female members of the SCS is summarised below.  MaleFemaleCMA SCS profile56.6%43.4%Performance management outcomesTop71.1%28.9%Achieved50.7%49.3%Low66.7%33.3%Not required (due to insufficient time in post)20.0%80.0% The BAME Performance Ratings Review was produced to allow a deeper analysis of the reasons and/or factors which could influence the distribution of performance ratings amongst BAME non-SCS staff. This work supports the CMA’s commitment to fully embed a diverse and inclusive culture within the CMA as detailed within the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2020 – 2024, and reinforces the work of the Race Action Plan 2020 – 2021. The Equality Reporting Principles set out the principles used for reporting performance rating distribution and CMA Staff Recognition Scheme outcomes for the purposes of the 2020 – 2021 non-SCS pay negotiation process. The CMA does not publish these documents externally as they were produced for internal purposes. It is recognised that there are differences in SCS performance management outcomes for men and women. As detailed within the 2019 – 2020 Gender Pay Gap Report the CMA has already made progress in reducing its gender pay gap through a range of initiatives, and this continues to be an area of focus for the CMA.

Hydrogen

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the economic benefits of green hydrogen development.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Low carbon hydrogen will be vital for meeting our legally binding commitment to achieving net zero by 2050, with potential to help decarbonise vital UK industry sectors and provide flexible deployment across heat, power and transport.Working with industry, the UK is aiming for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. As we progress towards this ambition, we would hope to see around 1GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2025.The UK has expertise and assets to support both electrolytic (green) and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) enabled (blue) hydrogen. Our twin track approach to enable both routes will drive cost effective supply volumes in the 2020s in line with our 2030 ambition, whilst scaling up green hydrogen.As outlines in my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, achieving our ambition could support up to 8,000 jobs and bring over £4bn of private investment by 2030, potentially unlocking up to 100,000 jobs and £12bn GVA by 2050 in a high hydrogen net zero scenario.The Government is clear that in supporting the growth of a hydrogen economy, there should be a focus on maximising economic benefits for local and regional communities and the UK as a whole. The UK will work with the green hydrogen sector to seek opportunities and export UK expertise and technology into the global hydrogen economy as it grows.

Energy: Meters

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the use of smart meters for residential solar PV installations.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Smart meters are replacing traditional gas and electricity meters in Great Britain as part of an essential infrastructure upgrade to make the energy system more efficient and flexible, enabling the cost-effective delivery of net zero greenhouse gas emissions. All smart meters are capable of recording electricity that is exported to the grid from onsite renewable generation sources, such as solar panels. The rollout is making good progress, with 23.6 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain, as of the end of December 2020. The latest data on the rollout of smart meters is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/smart-meters-statistics.

Batteries: Recycling

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2021 to Question 153244 on Electric Vehicles: Production, what steps he is taking to support and grow the UK's lithium battery recycling capabilities.

Nadhim Zahawi: In order to maximise the economic and environmental opportunities of the transition to zero emission vehicles, the UK Government is supporting the creation of a circular economy for electric vehicle batteries. This includes supporting the innovation, infrastructure, and regulatory environment for a UK battery recycling industry, including reuse in second life applications (such as energy storage) and development of efficient recycling techniques to extract maximum value. The Government has allocated £318m to the Faraday Battery Challenge which is playing a leading role in promoting the reuse and recycling of battery components. The Faraday Institution’s £10 million ‘ReLib’ (Reuse and Recycling of Lithium-ion Batteries) research project is developing the technological, economic and legal infrastructure to allow high percentages of the materials in lithium-ion batteries at the end of their first life to be reused or recycled. The Automotive Transformation Fund has been designed to support strategic investments in the electric vehicle supply chain, the scope of which includes battery recycling facilities.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the absence of an announcement on government-funded research and development allocations for 2021-22 on universities and other research institutions planning their spending for that financial year; and whether he plans on making that announcement before the beginning of the 2021-22 financial year.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to make funding allocations to universities and other research institutions to allow those institutions to plan support for post-doctoral research students.

Amanda Solloway: Research and development (R&D) are central to igniting the UK’s economic recovery, creating new jobs, boosting productivity, and improving people’s quality of life. New technologies will bring more productive, higher paid jobs to the whole economy. We are increasing investment in R&D across government to £14.6bn in 2021/22. This investment will put research and development at the heart of economic and social recovery from the impacts of COVID-19, enabling us to build back better for a greener, healthier and more resilient UK. We are working closely with all our delivery partners to understand the impact of the settlement on universities and other research institutions. We are also engaging with our partners to develop the 2021/22 allocations and help them plan implementation. We aim to update our partners on 2021/22 funding as soon as possible.

Business: Coronavirus

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on businesses with a rateable value above £51,000.

Paul Scully: The Government engages closely with businesses and local partners to understand the impact of Covid-19 across all sectors of the economy. Substantial grant support has been made available throughout the pandemic including to those businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 and above. Where those businesses are currently required by law to close, the Local Restrictions Support Grant enables local authorities to make grant payments of the equivalent of £4,500 per six-week period of closure. Businesses with a rateable value above £51,000 that were required by law to close at the beginning of the January lockdown are also able to access one-off grants of £9,000 through the Closed Business Lockdown Payment. My Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced that a further iteration of grants will be made available to enable businesses to reopen as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Restart Grants will offer businesses further one-off grants of up to £18,000. Further details will be made available in due course.

Overseas Companies

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the number of UK businesses which have relocated to outside of UK territory since (a) 23 June 2016, (b) 31 January 2020 and (c) 1 January 2021; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully: The Department works closely alongside other Government Departments such as HM Treasury to monitor economic metrics like Foreign Direct Investment, however these statistics do not provide a comprehensive assessment of where a business has chosen to set up a site outside UK territory as opposed to instances where businesses have chosen to fully relocate.Internationally, the UK will operate an independent trade policy for the first time in 50 years. Our focus now is on making sure that any business that is still facing challenges gets the support they need to trade effectively with the EU, and that all businesses benefit from the new free trade agreements we are striking around the world.

Fuel Poverty

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people were in fuel poverty, in each year from 2010 to 2021.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Fuel poverty is measured at the household level. Using the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) indicator, a household is considered to be fuel poor if it is living in a property with a fuel poverty energy efficiency rating of band D, E, F or G and its after housing costs income minus its energy costs would be less than 60 per cent of the median after housing costs income.” The number of households in fuel poverty in England between 2010 and 2019, the latest year for which statistics are available is shown in the table below:Table 1 - Total number of households living in fuel poverty, 2010-2019 YearNumber of households (000's)Proportion of fuel poor households (%)Fuel poor2010 4,780  22.1  2011 4,726  21.6  2012 4,351  19.8  2013 4,186  18.5  2014 3,905  17.3  2015 3,778  16.7  2016 3,731  16.2  2017 3,739  16.1  2018 3,517  15.0  2019 3,176  13.4 Note: This is based on the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency metric, 2010-2019 Further details on trends in fuel poverty in England can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fuel-poverty-trends-2021.Following the publication of the 2019 fuel poverty statistics on 4th March, projections for 2020 and 2021 are due to be published on the 29th of April this year.

Energy Supply

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) distribution network operators on (i) taking steps to tackle technical energy losses in the energy system and (ii) investing in efficient cabling to prepare the energy system for an increase in demand.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Government recognises the importance of managing energy losses to reduce emissions and protect consumers from unnecessary costs. We have regular discussions with Ofgem, which has the relevant regulatory powers in this area. Under the regulatory regime, distribution network operators have licence obligations to ensure that losses are as low as reasonably practicable and are incentivised to take action to reduce losses. As a result, for example, it is now standard practice for distribution network operators to ‘oversize’ replacement and new lower voltage cables, which reduces losses and also provides future proofing for demand increases.

Energy

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) effect and (b) cost of energy losses in the UK when developing the Energy White Paper.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Energy White Paper sets out our long-term strategic vision to deliver an affordable, secure and reliable energy system, consistent with net zero emissions by 2050.As we pursue this vision, we recognise the importance of managing energy losses to reduce emissions and protect consumers from unnecessary costs. We have regular discussions with Ofgem, which has the relevant regulatory powers.

Hydrogen

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the size of the UK's industrial base in green hydrogen.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Low carbon hydrogen will be vital for meeting our legally binding commitment to achieving net zero by 2050, with potential to help decarbonise vital UK industry sectors and provide flexible deployment across heat, power and transport.Working with industry, the UK is aiming for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. As we progress towards this ambition, we would hope to see around 1GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2025.The UK has expertise, innovation and natural assets to support both electrolytic (green) and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) blue hydrogen. Our twin track approach to enable both routes will drive cost effective supply volumes in the 2020s in line with our 2030 5GW ambition, whilst scaling up green hydrogen.The UK has the makings of a world leading hydrogen sector, enabling us to create strong domestic supply chains with jobs and growth expected across our industrial heartlands and beyond. We are working with industry to further understand these strengths and opportunities, including a focus on green hydrogen.

Fossil Fuels: Heating

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many homes that are off the gas grid use fossil fuel heating systems in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England as at 8 March 2021.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Using the latest available data, we estimate that there are currently around (i) 170,000, (ii) 160,000 and (iii) 1,080,000 off gas grid households using fossil fuel as their main heating systems in Scotland, Wales and England respectively. Sources:(i) Scottish house condition survey 2019 https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-house-condition-survey-2019-key-findings/pages/9/(ii) Estimate is derived from household estimates, which may differ from number of homes. Household estimates: mid-2019 https://gov.wales/household-estimates-mid-2019#:~:text=Estimated%20households%20for%20Wales&text=Between%20mid%2D2018%20and%20mid,Wales%2C%20based%20on%20these%20estimates. , Welsh Housing Conditions Survey (energy efficiency of dwellings): April 2017 to March 2018 https://gov.wales/welsh-housing-conditions-survey-energy-efficiency-dwellings-april-2017-march-2018 . Estimate includes oil and solid fuel heated households only.(iii) Analysis of English Household Survey , Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/english-housing-survey.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many heat pumps have been installed in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England in each year since 2010.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not publish the total number of heat pumps as not all are supported by government funding. The Department does publish estimates of heat generated by heat pumps which can be found via the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904827/DUKES_6.6.xls.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many heat pumps have been installed in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England with  support from the Renewable Heat Incentive in each year since 2014.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The number of heat pumps that have been installed with the support of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) (i.e., accredited applications to the scheme), are shown in the tables below split by domestic and non-domestic applications. Further data is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renewable-heat-incentive-statistics.  Domestic RHI supported heat pumps  England Wales Scotland Total accreditations Year  Air source heat pumpGround source heat pump Air source heat pumpGround source heat pump Air source heat pumpGround source heat pump Air source heat pumpGround source heat pump2014 4,8241,934 374206 700361 5,8982,5012015 8,1012,798 453282 3,029382 11,5833,4622016 3,669913 191139 1,017161 4,8771,2132017 4,162867 312130 803165 5,2771,1622018 3,918689 27486 928118 5,1208932019 7,278903 453106 1,612178 9,3431,1872020 7,251849 562137 1,787154 9,6001,1402021 57263 7219 15711 80193Total 39,7759,016 2,6911,105 10,0331,530 52,49911,651 Source: data underlying the RHI deployment statistics, https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renewable-heat-incentive-statistics  Non-domestic RHI supported heat pumps England Wales Scotland Total accreditations Air source heat pumpGround or water source heat pumps Air source heat pumpGround or water source heat pumps Air source heat pumpGround or water source heat pumps Air source heat pumpGround or water source heat pumps201102 00 00 022012027 03 06 0362013052 04 06 0622014274 010 09 2932015107182 313 318 113213201696262 617 2918 1312972017103111 107 613 119131201882147 212 1514 99173201954218 99 1515 782422020112374 1315 1081 1354702021325 02 013 340 Total 5591,474 4392 78193 6801,759Source: data underlying the RHI deployment statistics, https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renewable-heat-incentive-statistics

Climate Change

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Energy Charter Treaty on the ability of his Department to tackle climate change.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The UK remains deeply committed to domestic and international efforts to tackle climate change and we are working hard to lower emissions. Member States of the Energy Charter Treaty are currently engaged in a process to modernise the Treaty. The UK will seek to ensure the Treaty helps to deliver the Government’s energy priorities, which include tackling climate change and supporting the global clean energy transition.

Cabinet Office

Coronavirus: Death

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the proportion of people who died from covid-19 who were (a) disabled and (b) not disabled.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond. UKSAs response to PQ167227 (pdf, 91.1KB)

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Justin Madders: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average waiting time is for a complaint to be assigned to a Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman caseworker in the most recent period for which that information is available; and what that average waiting time was in March 2020.

Justin Madders: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average waiting time is from (a) a complaint being accepted for investigation and (b) a decision being made by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in the most recent period for which that information is available.

Justin Madders: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the performance of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Chloe Smith: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is independent of Government and is accountable to Parliament through the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee for its performance. The PHSO will therefore reply separately to these questions by letter.

Census: Forms

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many requests the census 2021 helpline has had for paper forms since it opened in 2021.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many calls have been unanswered by the Census 2021 helpline since it opened in 2021.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether people without internet access who have been unable to reach the census 2021 helpline as a result of reported waiting times will receive a fine for not submitting a census form by the given deadline.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.UKSAs response to PQ166536, 166537 , 166538 (pdf, 62.1KB)

Civil Servants: South East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Treasury's publication entitled Build Back Better: our plan for growth, dated March 2021, and the target set out on page 14 of that publication to relocate 22,000 civil servants out of London by 2030, whether that target is to relocate those civil servants out of (a) London or (b) London and the South East; and if he will confirm the exact boundaries of the areas he would denote by the terms (i) London, (ii) the South East and (iii) London and the South East.

Julia Lopez: At Budget 2020, the Government committed to relocating a minimum of 22,000 civil service roles out of central London, the vast majority to the other regions and nations of the UK.

Elections: Disinformation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Digital and Culture of 9 March 2021, Official Report, column 116WH, what role the Electoral Commission will have in tackling electoral disinformation.

Chloe Smith: The role of the Electoral Commission is to ensure that elections and referendums are run effectively and in accordance with the law, to register political parties, and to regulate donations and loans to political parties and other campaigners and their spending. The Commission has recently launched a public awareness campaign about online political advertising.The Government is committed to introducing a digital imprints regime. It will inform voters about the source of digital campaign material. The Electoral Commission will play a central role in ensuring compliance with the regime. This will be a big step forward in making UK politics more transparent and will empower voters to make informed decisions.Tackling disinformation in all its forms remains a key priority for the Government. As set out in the Full Government Response, the Online Safety Bill will introduce a duty of care requiring companies to address harms on their online platforms, such as misinformation and disinformation. The new laws will have robust and proportionate measures to deal with misinformation and disinformation that could cause significant physical or psychological harm to an individual. Ofcom will be the independent online harms regulator and the Bill will give Ofcom the tools it needs to understand how effectively disinformation is being addressed so that it can take action as required.

Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Government has made on ensuring that UK citizens living overseas retain the right to vote in UK general elections; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Honourable Gentleman to my answer to PQ133213, published on 11 January 2021.

Department of Health and Social Care

Autism and Learning Disability: Health Services

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department undertake a national review of existing commissioning arrangements for (a) autistic people and (b) people with learning disabilities.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: Inspections

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what meetings he has had with the Care Quality Commission on the implementation of its new inspection regime in relation to closed cultures; and how that new inspection regime relates to the Transforming Care agenda.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Community Discharge Fund

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether funding under the Community Discharge Fund is allocated to the local authority in which the person is ordinarily resident or the local authority where they are in hospital.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2021 to Question 158899, and the letter from Baroness Harding and Mr David Williams CB to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee dated 11 February 2021 outlining the cost per test at the testing site in Cwm, Marine Coillery, Ebbw Vale from October 2020 to December 2020, what the cost per test for that site was in each month since its opening in July 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Health Services

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish NHS England's 2017 'NHS Surge and Triage' guidance document.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of covid-19 vaccines administered to date were manufactured by Oxford Astra Zeneca; and what information his Department holds on the number of people who have received that vaccine who have since reported serious blood clotting.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will update https://www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests to enable employers who are sole traders to register via that webpage to order free rapid lateral flow coronavirus tests for their employees.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Community Discharge Fund

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2021 to Question 157099, which local authorities have been awarded funds from the Community Discharge Fund to date; and how much money each such authority received.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Eyesight: Diseases

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department makes available to fund research into (a) Stargardt disease and (b) other inherited retinal diseases; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Hospitals

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many inpatients have been treated for (a) covid-19 and (b) non-covid-19 related issues at each Nightingale hospital in each month since April 2020.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Incontinence: Health Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that the care of patients with major (a) continence and (b) prolapse issues is expedited as covid-19 restrictions are eased in recognition of the increase in waiting times for provision of that care that has accrued to those patients as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: South Yorkshire

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to make changes to the boundary of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System area.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Nurses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of nurses working in the NHS in (a) August 2019 and (b) March 2021 (i) as full time equivalents and (ii) in total.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nurses: Recruitment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many nurses have been recruited to the NHS since August 2019.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Public Health: Finance

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2021 Question 135951 on Public Health: Finance, if he will publish an update on the timescale for the announcement of individual local authority public health grant allocations for 2021-22.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: South Yorkshire

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of changing the boundary of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System area on waiting list times for patients awaiting operations postponed during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Care Homes

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Amnesty International's October 2020 report entitled, As if Expendable, whether the Government plans to take steps in response to the finding of that report that the Government adopted policies during the covid-19 outbreak that violated the human rights of older residents of care homes in England.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: South Yorkshire

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of changing Integrated Care System area boundaries on delivery of (a) the NHS Long Term Plan and (b) health inequalities in South Yorkshire.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pharmacy: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support pharmacies while covid-19 restrictions are in place.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pharmacy: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that pharmacies are not overly burdened in the future by the debts they have incurred during the period of covid-19 restrictions.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pharmacy: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the request for the repayment of the £370 million allocated to community pharmacies during the covid-19 outbreak on the future financial sustainability of that sector.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pharmacy: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the financial sustainability of pharmacies in the future.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what advice he has received from Pfizer/BionTech on the implications for (a) patient safety and (b) efficacy of administering the second dose of their covid-19 vaccine more than 21 days after the first dose.

Nadhim Zahawi: A phase three clinical trial study on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine efficacy demonstrated a two-dose vaccine efficacy of 95% with a second dose delivered between 19 and 42 days. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is of the view that the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is likely to provide protection for at least 12 weeks. The four United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers agreed with the JCVI, that at this stage of the pandemic, prioritising the first doses of vaccine for as many people as possible on the priority list will protect the greatest number of at risk people overall, in the shortest possible time, preventing mortality and protecting the National Health Service. From data available to the JCVI, the first dose of either Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine provides substantial protection within two to three weeks of vaccination for clinical disease and in particular severe COVID-19 disease.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to produce an estimate of the efficacy for a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine beyond 21 days.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of worst-case scenario if it is proven that protection from a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine does not persist after 21 days.

Nadhim Zahawi: After studying all the available data, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) concluded that the first dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine provided substantial protection from severe COVID-19 disease within two to three weeks of vaccination.  Whilst the second vaccine dose is important to sustain the protection and extend its duration, in the short term the additional impact of the second dose is likely to be modest and most of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine.The latest data from Public Health England, published on 1 March showed that  both the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines are highly effective in reducing COVID-19 infections among older people aged 70 years old and over. Since January protection against symptomatic COVID-19, four weeks after the first dose, ranged between 57 and 61% for one dose of Pfizer and between 60 and 73% for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.No specific assessment has been made.   The decision to extend the dosing interval to up to twelve weeks was based on advice from the JCVI and United Kingdom’s four Chief Medical Officers.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the second dose of the covid-19 vaccines is not delayed.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Government has secured early access to 457 million vaccines doses through agreements with eight separate vaccine developers to ensure that the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines is not delayed. We remain in constant contact with vaccine manufacturers and work hard that the supply to the United Kingdom is not disrupted.The Government is making excellent progress in its vaccination programme and is on track to have offered all adults their first dose by the end of July and a second dose no more than 12 weeks after their first.

Coronavirus: Hospital Beds

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the holding Answer of 11 January 2021 to Question 133784, for what reason the information requested relating to Nightingale Hospitals is not readily available to Departments to provide a timely response to Named Day Questions.

Edward Argar: We are working rapidly to provide all hon. Members with accurate answers to their questions, as well as supporting the Government’s response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 133784 of 26 January 2021.

NHS: Health Services

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish any documents developed during the covid-19 outbreak on NHS strategy for surge capacity and triage.

Edward Argar: The Department has no plans to publish further documents specifically on National Health Service surge capacity and triage. The Department continues to work closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement, including on the planning guidance for the service for 2021- 2022.

Department of Health and Social Care: Social Media

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many officials in (a) his private office and (b) the wider Department have been allocated to the production and promotion of online content for use on social media in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Edward Argar: The information requested is show in the following table. All members of staff shown work in the wider Department.YearNumber of staff2018-1932019-2062020-2110

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the number of covid-19 vaccine doses delivered to each region of (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each week week since 1 January 2021.

Nadhim Zahawi: Vaccination deployment programmes are managed by the health services in each nation.The United Kingdom Government is working closely with the devolved administrations to ensure an aligned approach to COVID-19 vaccine deployment. We have procured vaccines on behalf of all parts of the country and the Government is working with the devolved administrations to ensure it is deployed fairly.

Coronavirus: Hospitals

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients were (a) admitted and (b) discharged from each Nightingale hospital in each month of 2020.

Edward Argar: This information is not held in the format requested. NHS England and NHS Improvement are collating some data relating to patient activity in the Nightingale hospitals but this information has not been centrally validated.

Coronavirus: Hospitals

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients have been treated in each of the Nightingale hospitals, by location of hospital.

Edward Argar: This information is not held in the format requested. NHS England and NHS Improvement are collating some data relating to patient activity in the Nightingale hospitals, but this information has not been centrally validated.

Coronavirus: Hospitals

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many beds in Nightingale hospitals are being used for covid-19 patients.

Edward Argar: No beds in Nightingale hospitals are currently being used for COVID-19 patients. Nightingale hospitals were activated based on local clinical decisions in response to patient demand and are now in the process of being decommissioned.

Coronavirus: Hospital Beds

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the bed occupancy rate was at each of the Nightingale Hospitals on (a) 1 August, (b) 1 September, (c) 1 October, (d) 1 November and (e) 1 December 2020.

Edward Argar: This information is not held in the format requested. NHS England and NHS Improvement are collating some data relating to patient activity in the Nightingale hospitals but this information has not been centrally validated.

Coronavirus: Newcastle upon Tyne

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of high-risk citizens in Newcastle Central constituency have received the (a) first and (b) second dose of a covid-19 vaccine.

Nadhim Zahawi: The data is not held in the format requested. NHS England publish daily data for COVID-19 vaccinations in England, showing the total first and second doses given to date, by region. The number of people in the clinically extremely vulnerable cohort who have received their first and second doses is updated weekly. The number of vaccinations in each United Kingdom constituency by age group is also updated weekly. This data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that working age adults living in care homes receive prioritised access to covid-19 vaccines.

Nadhim Zahawi: There is clear evidence that those living in residential care homes for older adults have a high risk of exposure to infection and are at higher clinical risk of severe disease and mortality. Therefore, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised that this group should be the highest priority for vaccination as part of phase one.Many younger adults in long-stay nursing and residential care settings will also be eligible for vaccination if they fall into a clinical risk group - for example, those with learning disabilities. Given the likely high risk of exposure in these settings, where a high proportion of the population would be considered eligible, vaccination of the whole resident population is recommended.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to study the efficacy of a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine beyond 21 days.

Nadhim Zahawi: Public Health England (PHE) has been monitoring the effectiveness of the vaccines. Early data has shown that the Pfizer vaccine is highly effective in reducing COVID-19 infections among older people aged 70 years old and over. Since January, protection against symptomatic COVID-19 four weeks after the first dose ranged from 57-61% for one dose. PHE has also undertaken their first analysis of the early effects of COVID-19 vaccination using routine testing and vaccination data across England. This data, published in a pre-print on 1 March 2021, provides early evidence that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine is having a significant effect on the reduction of COVID-19 infection, hospitalisations and deaths in those over 70 years old. The Pfizer vaccine was shown as approximately 60-70% effective, rising to 85-90% after two doses. This analysis is available at the following link:https://khub.net/documents/135939561/430986542/Early+effectiveness+of+COVID+vaccines.pdf/ffd7161c-b255-8e88-c2dc-88979fc2cc1b?t=1614617945615

Coronavirus: Bolton South East

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of covid-19 vaccinations administered each day are administered in Bolton South East constituency.

Nadhim Zahawi: The data is not held in the format requested. However, NHS England publishes daily data for vaccinations in England, showing the total first and second doses given to date, by region. NHS England also publish the number of vaccinations in each United Kingdom constituency by age group, updated weekly. The data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of putting asthma sufferers who purchase asthma medicine abroad in the same priority group as clinically vulnerable asthma sufferers for the covid-19 vaccination.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, having looked at a wide range of evidence, concluded that only a subset of those with asthma are at clinically higher risk from COVID-19. This group is defined as adults with asthma who require continuous or repeated use of systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission. They will be vaccinated in priority group six. Some individuals with more severe asthma may also be included in the clinically extremely vulnerable group, in which case they will be vaccinated in priority group four.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to train health care professionals on how to communicate the safety and effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccines.

Nadhim Zahawi: Public Health England produces comprehensive training and information materials for COVID-19 vaccinators. This includes information about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines and key messages for healthcare professionals to convey to those being vaccinated. All vaccinating staff involved in the deployment programme are required to complete training that includes modules on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that vaccination centres work their way through the priority list in the correct order and vaccinate only groups 3 and 4 when as many as possible from groups 1 and 2 have been vaccinated.

Nadhim Zahawi: In order of priority, most United Kingdom residents will be contacted by their general practitioner (GP) to book their vaccine via an online or telephone system. Those in the initial priority groups can also arrange their vaccination appointment by calling 119 or through the national booking system at the following link:http://www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccinationAdditionally, the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) is used as the national register of COVID-19 vaccinations. At the point that someone receives their COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccinating team will record the information on the NIMS system and a patient’s GP record.The top four priority groups – people aged 70 years old and over, care home residents and staff, health and care staff and clinically extremely vulnerable patients – have now all been offered the opportunity to be vaccinated.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many doses of a covid-19 vaccine had been received by people in the UK on (a) 6 January 2020 and (b) the most recent date for which information is available.

Nadhim Zahawi: This data is not held in the form requested. Data is held on the number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine received by people in the United Kingdom by week. By 3 January 2021, 375,357 people in the UK had received their first dose of vaccine. This increased to 1,085,657 by 10 January 2021. The daily update of the number of vaccinations in the UK is available at the following link: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of adult care home residents received the first dose of a covid-19 vaccine by 3 January 2021.

Nadhim Zahawi: Data on the proportion of adult care home residents who have received the first dose of their vaccine by 3 January 2021 is not available. This data has been published since 4 February 2021.NHS England publishes weekly data on the vaccination of residents and staff in older adult care homes which is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to prioritise covid-19 vaccinations for the carers of terminally ill spouses.

Nadhim Zahawi: We recognise the vital role unpaid carers play in caring for vulnerable individuals. Unpaid carers are included in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s priority group six - all individuals aged 16 to 64 years old with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. This also includes those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish regional covid-19 vaccination targets.

Nadhim Zahawi: We have no plans to publish regional COVID-19 vaccination targets.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy that medical students should be vaccinated against covid-19 as well as all other NHS staff.

Nadhim Zahawi: All frontline healthcare staff who are eligible for seasonal influenza vaccination should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine. Temporary staff, including those working in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, students, trainees and volunteers who are working with patients are also included.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on ensuring that asylum seekers are able to access the covid-19 vaccination programme.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regularly meets with the devolved administrations to discuss a range of topics. The Government is working closely with the devolved administrations to ensure successful delivery of the vaccination programme across the whole of the United Kingdom. Entitlement to free National Health Service treatment is generally based on ordinary residence in the UK based on clinical need. As there is no charge for the COVID-19 vaccine, the immigration status of a patient is not relevant and therefore no proof of residence is required and there is no requirement to report anyone to the Home Office.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for a second priority vaccine list once the priority list of vaccinations has been completed; and whether that list would include people with health conditions such as ME and chronic fatigue syndrome who are not classed as clinically vulnerable.

Nadhim Zahawi: For phase two of the COVID 19 vaccination programme, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation published its interim advice on 26 February, setting out that the most effective way to minimise hospitalisations and deaths is to continue to prioritise people by age.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many covid-19 vaccinations have been allocated to and delivered in (a) the North West, (b) Liverpool city region, (c) Wirral and (d) Wallasey as of 11 January 2021.

Nadhim Zahawi: We do not routinely publish data regarding the allocation and delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Marco Longhi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department made an assessment of the potential merits of altering a person's priority in the covid-19 vaccine rollout if they were about to undergo lifesaving surgery with a substantial stay in hospital, to minimise the risk of that person contracting covid-19 during treatment and recovery.

Nadhim Zahawi: If someone is due to undergo lifesaving surgery, it is likely they will have already been captured in priority cohort four as clinically extremely vulnerable or cohort six as clinically vulnerable. Included in the description of those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable are those identified based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. If someone undergoing lifesaving surgery is deemed to be at high risk of mortality from COVID-19 by their clinician then they will have been offered their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by 14 February 2021.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the accessibility of covid-19 vaccines to carers supporting residents in their own homes; and what discussions is he having with home care providers on this issue.

Nadhim Zahawi: We will continue to follow the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) advice and vaccinate those most at risk first and those who work closest with them - care home residents and staff, followed by people over 80 years old and health and social care workers, then other people in order of age and risk.This includes all frontline social care workers directly working with people clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 who need care and support irrespective of where they work, whether they care for clinically vulnerable adults or children or who they are employed by.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the (a) average and (b) furthest distance a vaccinator has been asked to travel to deliver the covid-19 vaccine since the roll out of that vaccine.

Nadhim Zahawi: The data is not held centrally in the format requested.

Syringes

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that there are (a) adequate and (b) secure supplies of syringes to the NHS.

Nadhim Zahawi: The number of needles and syringes procured by Public Health England (PHE) for use with COVID-19 vaccine was consistent with administering two doses of vaccine to the United Kingdom population with an allowance for wastage. Subsequently there has been a further increase with additional vaccine availability. PHE is now procuring additional 250 million syringes associated with possible future COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of people who cannot receive a covid-19 vaccine for medical reasons.

Nadhim Zahawi: There are very few people who cannot receive one of the current COVID-19 vaccines for medical reasons. Those who have previously had an allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine, or to a component of one of the COVID-19 vaccines should not receive the vaccine. Current guidance is that pregnant women should also not receive a COVID-19 vaccine, unless they are at high risk of exposure to the virus and this cannot be avoided or where the woman has underlying conditions which put them at very high risk of serious complications of the virus.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department made an assessment of the potential merits of turning the NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber Hospital into a covid-19 vaccination centre.

Nadhim Zahawi: There are no plans to use the NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber as a vaccination centre.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his policy on vaccination is to (a) restrict the distribution of vaccinations in order to ensure that vaccinations for each priority groups is completed in turn across the country, or (b) to make vaccinations available to any vaccination centre that has capacity in order to maximise the overall number of people who are vaccinated, allowing some centres to start vaccinating the next priority groups in one area, before previous groups are completely vaccinated elsewhere.

Nadhim Zahawi: Targeted deliveries are being made to areas where there are more people left to vaccinate in the priority cohorts, proportionate to the at-risk population they have registered. This should allow any existing disparities to be addressed, alongside standing up community pharmacy and additional vaccination centres across the country to ensure access for everyone. Each Primary Care Network site receives their own supply and work has been carried out with local clinical commissioning groups to ensure that vaccine supply aligns with the number of registered patients in the priority cohort groups. Where sites may progress through their supply more quickly than others, NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with vaccination sites across the country to ensure that supplies are replenished to continue vaccinating our most vulnerable and to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of vaccine.

Coronavirus: Easington

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the care and nursing home residents and staff in the Easington constituency will begin to receive the covid-19 vaccine.

Nadhim Zahawi: Across the United Kingdom, including Easington, vaccines have been delivered directly to care homes since December 2020. Some 10,321 homes, amounting to 98% of homes with older residents have now offered the vaccine.In the North East and Yorkshire, 94% of residents of older adult care homes who have not had COVID-19 in last 28 days have been vaccinated. This data is not available at constituency level.

GP At Hand

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients are registered with the GP At Hand service.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients registered with the GP At Hand service who have been unable to access a covid-19 vaccine in their local areas.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how far on average patients registered with the GP At Hand service have had to travel to access their covid-19 vaccinations.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how long on average patients registered with the GP At Hand service have had to wait between being (a) offered a covid-19 vaccine and (b) able to attend an appointment to receive that vaccine.

Nadhim Zahawi: As at 1st March 2021, there were 92,470 patients registered at the ‘GP at Hand’ practice.Data on how many of those patients have been unable to access COVID-19 vaccines in their local area, how far they have had to travel, or the average wait between being offered a vaccine and attending to receive, is not collected centrally. Individuals eligible for vaccination have a choice on where they can book their COVID-19 vaccination. More than 98% of the country is now within 10 miles of a vaccination site.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who are not registered with a GP can access a covid-19 vaccination when they become eligible.

Nadhim Zahawi: The terms under which general practices are commissioned to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination services enable practices to vaccinate unregistered patients. Individuals who are not registered with a general practitioner (GP) practice will therefore be able to access the vaccine in line with the priority groups outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. However, we would strongly encourage everyone to register so that they may be more easily invited for vaccination.NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with local government, voluntary, community and social enterprise partners and Healthwatch England on a campaign to support all people, particularly those in inclusion health groups, to register with a GP. A key driver of the registration campaign is to support identification of those who should be prioritised for the vaccine.

Health Services: Ethnic Groups

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve care for black women in the NHS.

Ms Nadine Dorries: On 8 March the Government launched a call for evidence and is seeking to collect views on women’s health. It will run for a period of 12 weeks until 30 May 2021 and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/womens-health-strategy-call-for-evidenceWith the Maternity Transformation programme there is greater service user participation in the design and delivery of maternity services through Maternity Voices Partnerships which is making efforts that diverse voices are heard. The NHS Long Term Plan committed to implementation of an enhanced and targeted continuity of carer model for black, Asian and minority ethnic women, as well as for women living in the most deprived areas.The National Health Service is providing additional support for pregnant women from ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, as research shows heightened risks.The Department’s policy research programme is funding the National Institute for Health Research’s Policy Research Unit in Maternal and Neonatal Health and Care to conduct research to identify the factors associated with the excess risk of maternal death experienced by black and South Asian women.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with local NHS providers on the (a) ending of and (b) process of emergence from the covid-19 lockdown that began on 6 January 2021.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with National Health Service providers on a wide range of issues relating to the current national restrictions.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Mr Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using mobile vaccination centres to reach remote communities.

Nadhim Zahawi: Currently, in England, more than 98% of the population is within 10 miles of a vaccine service. In a small number of highly rural areas, the vaccination centre will be a mobile unit.

Antenatal Care

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which health professionals are responsible for the delivery of perinatal pelvic floor services.

Ms Nadine Dorries: All healthcare professionals in contact with women in the perinatal period have a role to play in supporting pelvic health. NHS England and NHS Improvement will develop a service model for Perinatal Pelvic Health Services in partnership with 14 Early Implementer Systems

Coronavirus: Clinics

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the location of all NHS Long Covid clinics within the UK.

Ms Nadine Dorries: NHS England has published a list of its post COVID-19 syndrome or ‘long’ COVID-19 assessment services in England only at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/post-covid-syndrome-long-covid/

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the speed of the recruitment process for vaccinators who are already medically qualified and registered.

Nadhim Zahawi: We are working with the Royal Voluntary Service and St John Ambulance to recruit and train thousands more volunteer vaccinators, who will have all the relevant clinical training, as well as supervision, to ensure they can vaccinate in a way that is safe for patients and for themselves. This includes drawing on the skills of those who have volunteered through the NHS Bring Back Scheme as well as those currently working outside of the National Health Service such as St John Ambulance, independent nurses and occupational health service providers.  In addition, secondary legislation enabling more healthcare workers to administer flu and potential COVID-19 vaccines has been introduced.

Coronavirus: Clinics

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of referrals of patients to NHS Long Covid clinics in (a) October 2020, (b) November 2020, (c) December 2020, (d) January 2021, (e) February 2021 and (f) March 2021.

Ms Nadine Dorries: This information is not currently held as referral data for NHS England and NHS Improvement ‘long’ COVID-19 assessment service centres is experimental and has not yet been validated.

NHS Test and Trace: Complaints

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many complaints his Department has received from hon. Members on NHS Test and Trace; and what the average response time is to those complaints.

Helen Whately: The information is not held in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Test and Trace Support Payment

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the payments under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme in deterring people from physically attending their workplace.

Helen Whately: No such assessment has been made.

Intelling: Data Protection

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what contractual penalties are in place to ensure that clinical contact tracers working for Intelling follow NHS guidance on personal data safety.

Helen Whately: NHS Test and Trace’s primary suppliers and their sub-contractors providing contact tracing services are legally obliged to adhere to the standard data handling conditions of all preferred Government suppliers, alongside terms specified by the Department. Contracts awarded by the Department include break clauses and clauses on managing product and service quality and delivery. These provisions allow us to review contracts and/or reclaim money where a company is deemed to have supplied faulty products, services or failed to deliver key outputs. Activity which could prompt the use of such mechanisms includes failure to meet legal obligations on data handling.

Body Bags

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2021 to Question 159014, what safeguards are in place to ensure that deceased persons are not incorrectly identified due to the use of body bags without transparent face windows.

Helen Whately: The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) is responsible for licensing post-mortem facilities and assesses whether licensed establishments adhere to the safeguards for the identification of the deceased set out in its statutory Codes of Practice.HTA-licensed establishments are expected to use three identifiers attached directly to the deceased for purposes of traceability and identification, usually on a wristband and should also be securely attached to the outside of the body bag. These standards ensure that procedures to identify the deceased are robust, irrespective of the type of body covering that is used.

Coronavirus: Screening

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to roll out regular covid-19 testing to people working in (a) primary schools and (b) nursery, childcare and early years settings; and what progress he is making on his plans for covid-19 testing in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: Lateral flow testing is available to staff of primary and secondary schools, nurseries and colleges, and students of secondary schools and colleges. From 8 March twice-weekly lateral flow testing has also been available to the households, childcare and support bubbles of staff and students.Students and staff should continue to access testing via their school. Tests for households, support and childcare bubbles can be ordered and collected from local sites or administered through workplace testing programs. Information on who is eligible for regular lateral flow testing and details of how to obtain a test are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff

Coronavirus: Pupils

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) offering confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for all students who test positive for covid-19 after taking an in-school lateral flow test and (b) students being allowed back to school if that PCR is negative.

Helen Whately: Lateral flow device (LFD) tests taken at test sites, such as on school and college grounds, do not require a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmation as these tests are done in a supervised environment. The self-isolation period must be commenced from the positive LFD test in a supervised environment.

Liver Diseases: Health Services

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure continuity of care for patients with liver cancer during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: Service is committed to ensuring continuity of care for cancer patients, including patients with liver cancer.To ensure essential and urgent treatment for all cancers have continued throughout the response to the pandemic, COVID-19 protected surgical hubs have been established for cancer surgery across the country.

HIV Infection: Health Services

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,  what steps he is taking to ensure that HIV/AIDS support services are available throughout the country.

Jo Churchill: We are developing a Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and HIV Action Plan, which we plan to publish in 2021. We will consider issues relating to the role and future need for HIV support services in England as part of the process to develop both the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and HIV Action Plan.

Live Diseases: Coronavirus

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the number of people with (a) liver cirrhosis, (b) liver failure and (c) liver cancer who have died as a result of a covid-19 infection.

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of covid-19 deaths of patients with liver failure as a proportion of all covid-19 deaths in the UK.

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to include liver services in NHS covid-19 recovery plans.

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that comprehensive care pathways for liver patients are implemented by each Integrated Care System in England.

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the geographical variation in (a) the provision and (b) delivery of liver care services in England; and what plans his Department has to (a) reduce that variation and (b) improve liver disease survival rates.

Jo Churchill: It is not possible to disaggregate the number of people with liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer who have died as a result of COVID-19 infection, nor the number of COVID-19 deaths of patients with liver failure as a proportion of all COVID-19 deaths in the United Kingdom. This is due to the way data is collected The NHS Long Term Plan recognises the importance of preventing avoidable liver disease through targeted policies to address alcohol consumption and obesity. As the NHS recovers from the impact of the pandemic, specialised commissioning teams will be refocusing their efforts on achieving the ambitions set out in the Long Term Plan and working with local systems and clinical networks to improve outcomes for people with preventable and complex conditions, including liver disease.NHS England is developing liver networks in England, supported by the Hepatobiliary Clinical Reference Group, to enable quicker access to specialised liver services, as well as providing clinical advice on disease prevention and referral practice. To address geographical variation, NHS England and NHS Improvement, with support from Public Health England, are helping acute hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol harm to establish or improve specialist alcohol care teams. Areas at highest need will be supported by targeted national investment. To improve survival rates and support earlier detection of alcohol-related liver disease, NHS England and NHS Improvement are also developing a commissioning for quality and innovation scheme to incentivise increased cirrhosis and fibrosis tests for alcohol dependent patients in acute and mental health services.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to include the HIV prevention drug PrEP in the Core GP contract.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to develop a Patient Group Direction so that the HIV prevention drug PrEP can be made available in pharmacies.

Jo Churchill: In March 2020, we announced that the HIV prevention drug pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) would be routinely available across England in 2020/21. This year we provided £11 million to local authorities for routine commissioning of PrEP and this is now in place in the majority of areas in the country. Routine commissioning of PrEP, alongside other measures, will take us closer to our ambition of zero new HIV transmissions in England by 2030.Provision of PrEP, including the settings in which PrEP should be made available outside of specialist sexual health services, will be considered as part of the development of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and HIV Action Plan, which we plan to publish in 2021.

Coronavirus: Developing Countries

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to assist other nations in identifying new variants of the covid-19 virus.

Jo Churchill: On 26 January, we announced a global offer of United Kingdom genomics expertise to detect new variants of COVID-19. Following this, the New Variants Assessment Platform (NVAP) has been developed by Public Health England. The primary aim of the NVAP is to support global mapping of variants of concern, feeding into the World Health Organization, with further assessments to determine the risk of vaccine escape when deemed necessary.In addition to the NVAP there are several work programmes, including through the UK’s G7 presidency, which address other aspects of global pathogen surveillance needs.

Liver Diseases: Health Services

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure effective implementation of liver disease and cirrhosis assessments in routine NHS health checks in England.

Jo Churchill: In line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s recommendations, NHS Health Check guidance advises that individuals whose alcohol consumption puts them at higher risk should be referred for a cirrhosis assessment.The NHS Health Check includes an assessment of an individual’s alcohol consumption using AUDIT-C. Depending on the outcome of the assessment, support is given to access behavioural and clinical interventions as well as follow on tests for those individuals whose alcohol consumption is identified as high risk.

Coronavirus: Households

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has within its covid-19 roadmap to allow established couples who do not live in the same household and are not eligible to establish a support bubble to mix indoors.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Limiting mixing indoors, where the risk of transmission is much higher, is critical to halting the spread of the virus. Therefore, people will not be allowed to mix indoors with anyone they do not live with or have not formed a support bubble wit, until step three of the roadmap, which will come into force no earlier than 17 May. From step three, up to six people or two households will be able to meet indoors. However, couples can currently meet outdoors on a one to one basis for exercise and recreation.The Government will keep this under review in keeping with its commitment to remove current restrictions based on the data.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Burlington House: Rents

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of rent increases at Burlington House on (a) scientific research and (b) culture and heritage.

Eddie Hughes: Five Learned Societies are tenants of New Burlington House, owned by the Department. Following a High Court settlement, all parties agreed in 2005 that rent would increase to market levels over a period of 80 years. The rent is at a limited rate to reflect the fact that the land is being used for cultural and educational purposes. The Department and the Learned Societies agreed in 2019 that the market rental value of the land was £50 per square foot but the Learned Societies are currently paying only £15.35 per square foot.The rents charged are in accordance with the Learned Societies’ leases. The rents are calculated annually by way of a valuation that is based on evidenced market transactions and have followed growth of market rent since 2005. Rents can therefore rise and fall. The Department does not currently hold a forecast of rental projections from 2005. Rents based on the current lease are updated each year following valuation.The Department is sympathetic to the Societies’ position and is exploring whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and help the Learned Societies to remain at New Burlington House and an assessment of value will be made as part of an agreement. The Department has been discussing options with the Learned Societies and DCMS given their responsibility for policy in regards to culture, museums and heritage.

Burlington House: Flats

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment was made of the (a) public value benefit and (b) value to the public purse in his Department's plans for the New Burlington House apartments.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the future options for New Burlington House; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the difference for his Department's rental projections for the Burlington House Societies (a) as forecast in 2005 and (b) latest figures available; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the percentage increase was in rent set by his Department payable by the Courtyard Societies in each year since 2005; for what reasons there has been a change in the level of the percentage increase since 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Eddie Hughes: Five Learned Societies are tenants of New Burlington House, owned by the Department. Following a High Court settlement, all parties agreed in 2005 that rent would increase to market levels over a period of 80 years. The rent is at a limited rate to reflect the fact that the land is being used for cultural and educational purposes. The Department and the Learned Societies agreed in 2019 that the market rental value of the land was £50 per square foot but the Learned Societies are currently paying only £15.35 per square foot.The rents charged are in accordance with the Learned Societies’ leases. The rents are calculated annually by way of a valuation that is based on evidenced market transactions and have followed growth of market rent since 2005. Rents can therefore rise and fall. The Department does not currently hold a forecast of rental projections from 2005. Rents based on the current lease are updated each year following valuation.The Department is sympathetic to the Societies’ position and is exploring whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and help the Learned Societies to remain at New Burlington House and an assessment of value will be made as part of an agreement. The Department has been discussing options with the Learned Societies and DCMS given their responsibility for policy in regards to culture, museums and heritage.

Burlington House

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the terms of agreement were between his Department and the Societies for the drawing of a new lease for Burlington House in 2018.

Eddie Hughes: A lease was agreed in 2005 by the then Government and the Learned Societies. The terms of the 2005 lease remained unchanged in the 2018 lease renewal.Details of the 2005 lease, can be obtained from the Land Registry.

UK Community Renewal Fund

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the measure of household income used for the index of economic resilience for the UK Community Renewal Fund differs from the Income Deprivation Domain used in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using the Indices of Multiple Deprivation to prioritise investments through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes: To ensure the UK Community Renewal Fund funding reaches the most in need, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density.We are committed to transparency and a methodological note explaining how the 100 priority places were determined has been published: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note.The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) does not represent a ‘one size fits all’ solution to measuring economic need - not all of the variables it considers are relevant to the particular interventions we want to support through the UK Community Renewal Fund, and some of the variables it does not consider, such as productivity, are central to the policy goals of the Fund.

UK Community Renewal Fund

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the measure of household income used for the index of economic resilience for the UK Community Renewal Fund differs from the Income Deprivation Domain used in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using the Indices of Multiple Deprivation to prioritise investments through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes: To ensure the UK Community Renewal Fund funding reaches the most in need, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density. We are committed to transparency and a methodological note explaining how the 100 priority places were determined has been published: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note.The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) does not represent a ‘one size fits all’ solution to measuring economic need - not all of the variables it considers are relevant to the particular interventions we want to support through the UK Community Renewal Fund, and some of the variables it does not consider, such as productivity, are central to the policy goals of the Fund.

Levelling Up Fund and UK Community Renewal Fund

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the Government does not plan to publish immediately the methodology used to calculate the index employed to categorise places for the Levelling Up Fund and UK Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes: To ensure the UK Community Renewal Fund funding reaches the most in need, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density.We are committed to transparency and a methodological note explaining how the 100 priority places were determined has been published: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note.As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents.

Levelling Up Fund and UK Community Renewal Fund

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the barriers to immediate publication of the methodology used to calculate the index employed to categorise places for the (a) Levelling Up Fund and (b) UK Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes: To ensure the UK Community Renewal Fund funding reaches the most in need, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density.We are committed to transparency and a methodological note explaining how the 100 priority places were determined has been published: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note.As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents.

Towns Fund

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish all details of all the Town Deals published on 3 March 2021, including details of the projects which received funding and those which did not.

Luke Hall: The 45 towns which were offered Town Deals on 3 March are currently reviewing their prospective Deals. Once towns have accepted their Town Deal offers, Heads of Terms are signed and then also published on local authority websites, which include the details of projects MHCLG has agreed to fund.

Levelling Up Fund

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the average cost to local authorities that are not prioritised for capacity funding of bidding for funding from the Levelling Up Fund.

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans for an appeal process to challenge priority status for capacity funding under the Levelling Up Fund.

Eddie Hughes: As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents.While preference will be given to bids from higher priority areas, the bandings do not represent eligibility criteria, nor the amount or number of bids a place can submit. Bids from categories 2 and 3 will still be considered for funding on their merits of deliverability, value for money and strategic fit, and could still be successful if they are of exceptionality high quality.

Towns Fund: Impact Assessments

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish any equalities impact assessment that was conducted for the Towns Fund.

Eddie Hughes: The Towns Fund is helping level up the country, driving economic regeneration, productivity and growth.The Government’s approach to considering equalities impacts is set out in both the Towns Fund Prospectus, published in November 2019 and the Further Guidance published in June 2020.All local authorities are required to consider the equalities impacts of their proposals as part of the Public Sector Equality Duty. In the guidance we also made clear the responsibilities of the Town Deal Board to fulfil duties on public authorities under the Equalities Act 2010.

Regional Planning and Development: Research

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish Government commissioned research into public attitudes to its levelling up agenda by external polling and communications agencies.

Eddie Hughes: The Department has not commissioned research into public attitudes on the levelling up agenda by external polling or communications agencies.

Coastal Communities Fund and Coastal Revival Fund

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when coastal communities will be able to reapply for the (a) Coastal Communities Fund and (b) Coastal Revival Fund.

Eddie Hughes: The Government is committed to levelling up all parts of the UK. Coastal communities will be able to benefit from funding announced in the recent budget. This includes £220 million funding for UK Community Renewal and the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund which will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK. In addition, the UK Government is launching a new £150 million Community Ownership Fund to help ensure that communities across the UK are prepared for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

UK Community Renewal Fund: Wales

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he had with Welsh local authorities on the design of the Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes: The Government has been engaging with key stakeholders on the design and priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund since 2016, including holding a series of engagement events.  Our engagement events have taken place across the UK. Over 500 stakeholders attended these events across a variety of sectors, including Welsh local authorities.We will continue to engage stakeholders as we consolidate policy development for UK Share Prosperity Fund.

Service Charges: Research

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to Answer of  3 March 2021 to Question 157189 on Service Charges: Research, when the Government will consider the findings of Cambridge University's report.

Eddie Hughes: The Government is considering the findings of the Cambridge University report alongside the recommendations made on service charges in the report of the Lord Best working group on the Regulation of Property Agents.

Somerset House

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment was made of the (a) public value benefit and (b) value to the public purse when Somerset House was transferred from HM Government to the Somerset House Trust in 1997.

Eddie Hughes: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Buildings: Insulation

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will review Public Contracts Regulations 2015 to ensure that local authorities can exclude those applying for contracts who have previously constructed premises with cladding that has been found to be a dangerous fire risk.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will review the guidance for Central Government Departments, Executive Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies for local authorities so that bidders can be excluded if they are responsible for constructing premises with cladding that has been found to be a dangerous fire risk.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Regulation 57 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, whether it is his Department's policy that local authorities can mandatorily or discretionarily exclude a bidder from a contract if they are responsible for constructing premises with cladding that has been found to be a dangerous fire risk.

Christopher Pincher: Matters concerning the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 are the responsibility of Cabinet Office, including the grounds for the exclusion of bidders from public procurement procedures that are set out within the regulations.These rules set out the circumstances in which bidders must, or may, be excluded from a public procurement process for a variety of criminal offences and in other specific situations. Decisions need to be based around firm evidence and individual contracting authorities, including local authorities, are responsible for their own decisions on these matters.The Green Paper “Transforming Government Procurement” includes a package of proposals to bolster the existing exclusion grounds, including discretionary measures to exclude for poor past performance even if it had not led to termination, damages or comparable sanctions. The Government will also investigate the feasibility of developing a centrally managed debarment list of suppliers who have relevant convictions to make it easier for contracting authorities to identify organisations that must be excluded from public procurement. Detailed analysis of the consultation responses will follow in due course.More widely, it is also clear that further measures must be put in place to prevent unsafe products being placed on the market and there must be action against companies which advertise and sell unsafe products, or who game the testing regime.That is why we have brought forward proposals to strengthen the regulation of construction products in the draft Building Safety Bill. We have also announced in January a new national regulator for construction products, and a review into the construction product testing regime. We expect all public suppliers to act with integrity and to high standards, and will act where we see standards falling short.

Buildings: Insulation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government is providing assistance to developers to help meet the increased demand for cladding remediation work and avoid delays in sales of leasehold property.

Christopher Pincher: The Government is providing further grant funding of £3.5 billion in addition to the £1.6 billion already provided to fund the removal of unsafe cladding systems from residential buildings 18 metres and over in England. We are also providing expert construction consultation support to actively engage with those planning and undertaking remediation work being funded by the Government to increase the pace of remediation.   However, Government funding and other support does not absolve industry from responsibility and taking action. We expect developers, investors and building owners to cover remediation costs themselves, meeting their legal and contractual obligations, recovering costs or drawing on warranties where applicable, without passing on costs to leaseholders. This is happening in over half of all private sector high-rise residential buildings with unsafe Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems.

Hospitality Industry: Permitted Development Rights

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2020 to Question 104771, whether local authorities can exercise their discretion in order to permit those (a) pubs and (b) hospitality businesses that are in listed buildings to erect temporary outside structures within their curtilage.

Christopher Pincher: We are considering what further planning measures may be needed to support such businesses as the COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

Affordable Housing: Construction

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to build more affordable homes and reduce social housing provider waiting lists.

Christopher Pincher: The Government is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing and is investing over £12 billion in affordable housing over 5 years, the largest investment in affordable housing in a decade. This includes the new £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, which will leverage up to £38 billion of private finance and provide up to 180,000 new homes across the country, should economic conditions allow.  Approximately 50% of the homes delivered will be for affordable home ownership, supporting aspiring homeowners to take their first step on to the housing ladder. We will also deliver more than double the homes for social rent compared to the current programme, with around 32,000 social rent homes due to be delivered.  Furthermore, our £9 billion Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme, running to 2023, will deliver approximately 250,000 new affordable homes.  Since 2010, we've delivered over 517,100 new affordable homes, including over 365,800 affordable homes for rent, of which 148,000 homes for social rent.

Housing: Parking

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of households have driveway access in England.

Christopher Pincher: MHCLG does not collect data specifically on driveway access, but the Department's English Housing Survey collects information on parking provision (i.e. garage/off street/street parking etc.). The latest data show that 38% of dwellings have garage parking and an additional 29% have off street parking.This data is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/898459/DA2201_Parking_and_mains_gas_-_dwellings.xlsx.

Right to Buy Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timescale is for the national roll out of the Voluntary Right to Buy scheme.

Christopher Pincher: The Voluntary Right to Buy Midlands pilot is in its final stages, and has been fully evaluated. The Government committed to evaluate new pilot areas, and further details will be provided shortly.

Flags: EU Countries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to revise the Guide to Flying Flags to remove the EU flag as a flag that does not require consent to fly; and whether he plans to take steps in response to organisations that fly the EU without consent.

Christopher Pincher: My Department is currently reviewing the provisions regulating the flying of flags in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertising) (England) Regulations 2007.

Ministry of Justice

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with the Home Office on the issue of fees payable to HM Courts & Tribunals Service across the range of civil applications that are made by police forces.

Chris Philp: The Ministry of Justice works closely with all government departments, including the Home Office, on the matter of fees payable by public authorities to HM Courts & Tribunals Service in civil and family proceedings; and will continue to do so. It is right that we seek to recover a contribution towards the costs of providing HMCTS services from court and tribunal users - including public authorities - where they can afford to do so. These contributions are used to fund a more effective and efficient courts service and support access to justice. In 2019/20, there was a net fee income of £724m against the £2bn running costs of HMCTS.

Question

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the Attorney General on the safety of jury trials as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Chris Philp: The Lord Chancellor regularly meets with the Attorney General and discusses a range of priority issues, which will include the impact of COVID-19 on the courts.The access to justice provided by courts and tribunals is of critical importance. It is of top priority of HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to ensure that this essential public service is delivered safely.HMCTS has risk assessed every Crown Court and introduced a range of safety controls to ensure that jury trials are safe and that all our courts are Covid-secure. For example, we have installed plexiglass screens in over 450 court rooms and jury deliberation rooms, provided additional touchpoint cleaning, mandated the use of face coverings in all communal areas, introduced one-way systems and taken steps to reduce footfall and remodelled office areas to ensure social distancing. Public health experts have endorsed these measures. Throughout the pandemic transmission of Covid-19 between jurors and court users in jury trials has been low.The Government’s roadmap out of lockdown for England was published on 22 February. The proposed lifting of restrictions set out in Steps 1 to 3 will not have any direct bearing on jury trial safety measures in that they do not provide any opportunities to operate outside the current Covid-secure risk assessment process and measures, which are already well established and will remain in place.Ahead of Step 4, as more is understood about the impact of vaccines on transmission and a far greater proportion of the population has been vaccinated, the Government will complete a review of social distancing measures and other long-term measures that have been put in place to limit transmission.As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to act on the standards, advice and guidance available for workplaces, and where those change, we will update our policies, in consultation with Public Health organisations, to meet any new guidelines issued. In our planning, we will consider any variations in the approaches of the devolved nations.

Magistrates: Equality

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release, Judicial retirement age to rise to 75, published on 9 March 2021, how his Department plans to allocate the £1 million to increase diversity within the magistracy.

Chris Philp: MoJ is investing in a recruitment and attraction programme to recruit more and more diverse magistrates. This will include the introduction of new IT that will enable better tracking of magistrate recruitment data, and outcomes, including by diversity data. We will also be investing in a targeted marketing strategy in 2021 directed at under-represented groups in local areas to boost magistrate recruitment.

Magistrates: Retirement

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of former magistrates who will be entitled to re-enter the judiciary as a result of the change to magistrates' retirement age in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) England and Wales.

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release, Judicial retirement age to rise to 75, published on 9 March 2021, whether judicial office holders other than former magistrates between the ages of 70 and 75 will be entitled to re-enter the judiciary.

Chris Philp: When the new mandatory retirement age (MRA) comes into force, there will be a transitional provision to enable retired magistrates to apply to return to the bench, subject to business need. We are currently updating our modelling to ascertain the impact of an increase to 75 on the supply of magistrates (both regionally and nationally) and on our recruitment requirements for 2021/22 and beyond. Judicial office holders who are in office when the new mandatory retirement age comes into force will be able to continue sitting until 75. Judges below the High Court are already able to have their appointments extended, on an annual basis, up to the age of 75, where there is a business need. In addition, salaried judges can also be authorised to sit in retirement on an ad hoc basis up to the age of 75. We therefore do not intend to provide for transitional arrangements to allow for the reappointment of judges who have retired but are younger than the new MRA.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that appeals of benefit decisions can continue to be heard during the covid-19 lockdown announced on 5 January 2021.

Chris Philp: Throughout the pandemic, appeals have continued to be decided on the papers, or heard using telephone and other remote technology. Additionally, HM Courts & Tribunals Service has introduced safety measures, so that face-to-face hearings can be held for any cases, which cannot be decided on the papers or heard remotely. The decision as to how a hearing is conducted is a matter for the judge, who will determine how best to uphold the interests of justice.

Prisoners' Release: Homelessness

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what funding his Department plans to allocate to the Homelessness Prevention Taskforces operating in each National Probation Service region from 1 April 2021.

Alex Chalk: In 2021-22, £1.86 million will fund the 12 regional Homelessness Prevention Taskforces. This will provide a Band 6, a Band 5 and a Band 3 member of staff in each region – that is £155,000 per region. Five of the 12 probation regions in England (East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, Greater Manchester, Kent Surrey and Sussex, and the North West) will be launching a new accommodation service in summer 2021, providing up to 12 weeks’ worth of basic temporary accommodation for prison leavers who would otherwise be homeless. £20 million will be allocated between the five regions. As yet the allocation to each region has not been determined. Funding will be allocated according to the number of people we forecast being released homeless in each area, and will reflect the learning gathered from both the Covid-19 emergency scheme, and the offender accommodation pilot. It is our intention, pending the Spending Review later this year, to proceed to roll out the accommodation provision nationally.

Prisoners' Release: Homelessness

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support he plans to make available to prevent homelessness for prison leavers in the (a) Wales, (b) North East, (c) West Midlands, (d) East Midlands, (e) London, (f) South West and (g) South Central National Probation Service region, from 1 April 2021.

Alex Chalk: While our new scheme to support prison leavers will begin in five of the twelve NPS regions this year, there will continue to be a range of support available for those leaving prison in the other seven regions, including offender management, rehabilitation services and charity organisations across England and Wales for those at risk of homelessness. In addition, we have set up seven Homelessness Prevention Taskforces (HPTs) to help find accommodation for offenders upon release. These taskforces were initially set up for each of the 7 old divisions but will soon reflect the new regional arrangement of the NPS.HPTs will work across England and Wales to ensure strategic links are in place with Local Authorities, Police, Housing Associations, substance misuse services and health services. They will also work closely with offender managers, who retain responsibility for individuals and their rehabilitation plan, to help homeless offenders into stable accommodation.HM Prison and Probation Service has published an Accommodation Operational Framework that sets out the roles and responsibilities of prisons, probation and wider partners and a series of commitments We are currently putting in place regional contracts with accommodation support providers under the new Dynamic Framework ahead of the unification of probation services in June. The future performance framework for probation unified delivery will include a target on the number of individuals being housed on release from custody (90%), aligned with current prisons metrics, to promote joint working between prisons and the National Probation Service in supporting prisoners leaving custody to find a home. We will also measure settled accommodation for all people under supervision (those released from prison and those on community sentences). This will assess the status three months after commencement of supervision (80%), supporting referrals to accommodation services provided under the Dynamic Framework.

Reoffenders: Females

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reasons the statistics for reconviction rates by sex and custodial sentence length, published alongside the report Women and the criminal justice system 2017 on 29 November 2018, were not updated for the publication of the report Women and the criminal justice system 2019 on 26 November 2020.

Alex Chalk: The Ministry of Justice is responsible for Statistics on Women and the Criminal Justice System. The content and structure of section 95 equalities reports under the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (including Women and the Criminal Justice System) may vary each year depending on user demand for particular topics and data availability. In the 2017 report (published in November 2018), bespoke analysis on custody lengths by proven reoffending and sex was provided and published. However, this analysis was not updated in the 2019 report (published in November 2020) due to prioritising other areas of analyses for the report and implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this analysis required access to the police national computer (PNC) which had limited and heavily prioritised availability at the time to minimise the non-essential travel by our analysts. The latest statistics for proven reoffending can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/proven-reoffending-statistics-january-to-march-2018

Treasury

Treasury: Darlington

Steve Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 March 2021 to Question 162625, whether any new jobs will be created by the location of HM Treasury's Northern Campus in Darlington.

Kemi Badenoch: The Darlington economic campus is an important part of the government’s wider Places for Growth programme, which aims to move 22,000 Civil Servants out of London by 2030. HM Treasury will be filling roles in the Darlington economic campus through both voluntary relocation and direct recruitment. The new office will include a range of roles and levels of seniority. The mixture of voluntary relocation and direct recruitment, and the exact nature of the roles, will be determined in due course.

Treasury: Social Media

Darren Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many officials in (a) his private office and (b) the wider Department have been allocated to the production and promotion of online content for use on social media in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Kemi Badenoch: There are no officials in private office allocated to the production and promotion of online content. The digital capability in communications team is not wholly devoted to social media but also deals with content production for other purposes such as design and photography. With that caveat the number of civil servants for whom this is a part of their role for the relevant years is: 2018-19: 42019-20: 52020-21: 6 ( and 1 vacancy)

Ministers: Gifts and Endowments

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to publish the document entitled HMT ministers' meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel: 1 April to 31 July 2020.

Kemi Badenoch: The transparency data titled: ‘HMT ministers' meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel: 1 April to 30 June 2020’ was published here on 29 October 2020: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel-1-april-to-30-june However, it wasn’t added to the collection page on gov.uk at that time due to an administrative error. It can now be viewed on the GOV.UK collection page at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Beer: Excise Duties

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the increase in beer duty required to achieve revenue neutrality for (a) bottled and (b) off-licence beer on licenced premises.

Mr Richard Holden: , To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the potential increase in cider duty required for (a) bottled and (b) off-licence beer on licenced premises from a keg or barrel to achieve revenue neutrality by offsetting a beer duty reduction of (i) 1p per pint (ii) 5p per pint (ii) 10p per pint (iii) 50 percent and (iv) 100 percent.

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the potential cost to the Exchequer of reducing licenced premises beer duty for (a) beer and (b) cider from a keg or barrel of not less than 20 litres to (i) 1p per pint (ii) 5p per pint (ii) 10p per pint (iii) by 50 percent and (iv) by 100 percent.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government has consulted industry and other stakeholders on the possibility of charging different alcohol duty rates in different places as part of its Alcohol Duty Review. As noted in the call for evidence document, while beneficial to recipients, such a differential would add complexity and cost to the existing duty arrangements. The Government is now analysing the feedback received and will respond in due course.

Corporation Tax: Foreign Investment in UK

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make an assessment of the effect on the level of inward investment in each year since 2010 of Government corporation tax policy changes since 2010.

Jesse Norman: The estimated economic impacts of reductions in the rate of Corporation Tax since 2010 were reflected in the OBR’s forecasts at the time those reductions were announced and detailed in the OBR’s published Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Banks: Closures

Paul Maynard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of bank closures on local communities.

John Glen: The decision to close a branch is a commercial issue for banks and building societies and the Government does not intervene in these decisions or make direct assessments of the impact of closures. However, the Government does believe that the impact on communities should be understood, considered and mitigated where possible. That is why the Government continues to be supportive of the Access to Banking Standard which commits firms to ensure customers are well informed about branch closures, the bank’s reasons for closure and options for continued access to banking services. These include the Post Office, which allows 95% of business and 99% of personal banking customers to carry out their everyday banking at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. In September 2020, the FCA also published guidance setting out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to reduce their physical branches or the number of free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of a planned closure on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and other relevant branch services and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This will ensure the implementation of closure decisions is undertaken in a way that treats customers fairly.

Small Businesses: Money

Paul Maynard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many small businesses rely on cash to function in the UK.

John Glen: Research commissioned by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) in 2019 found that over half of small businesses accepted cash while it accounted for only 14% of their income on average. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted cash usage in the short-term and is likely to have accelerated the longer-term trends of declining cash use. However, it is too early to determine the lasting effect. In November 2020, the Bank of England published their Quarterly Bulletin, which included analysis of cash acceptance. Based on a survey in July 2020 they found that 42% of people had visited a store in the previous six months that did not accept cash. That represented an increase on the January figure of 15%. The Government created the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group in 2019, which has provided a forum for the public bodies to formally co-ordinate respective approaches to access to cash. This is chaired by HM Treasury and attended by the Bank of England, PSR, and Financial Conduct Authority. The Group published an update on the actions of the Group’s members in July 2020.  The Government continues to engage with the regulators to monitor and assess risks around cash, including those resulting from COVID-19. In order to help control the virus, all businesses and individuals are encouraged to follow the latest Government advice. To work safely, retailers have been recommended to minimise contact around transactions, for example, considering using contactless payments. It remains the individual retailer’s choice as to whether to accept or decline any form of payment, including cash or card. The Government has committed to bring forward legislation to ensure that the UK’s cash infrastructure is sustainable for the long term. In October 2020, the Government published a Call for Evidence on Access to Cash, which sought views on the key considerations associated with cash access, including deposit and withdrawal facilities, cash acceptance, and regulatory oversight of the cash system. The Government is considering responses to the Call for Evidence and will set out next steps in due course.

Finance: Advisory Services

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support money advice organisations in communities.

John Glen: In January 2019 the Government established the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) with the objectives to simplify the existing public financial guidance landscape and offer more holistic support to consumers. MaPS brings together the functions of the three former organisations that provided free-to-use financial guidance: the Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise. The Government is committed to helping people access money guidance when they need it and recognises the impact of the pandemic on people’s personal finances. MaPS partners with local money guidance organisations and signposts to them through its website and its online Money Navigator Tool. This tool was developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and was launched in June 2020; it provides financial guidance tailored to individual needs.

DMB Solutions: VAT

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the HMRC liquidation claim for DMB solutions Ltd, HMRC reference 075 2142906 03, what steps have been taken to recover the £578,497.83 VAT element of HMRC’s claim from the company's directors personally; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: HMRC cannot release this information as it relates to an identifiable individual or organisation.

Housing: VAT

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential cost benefits of reducing VAT on (a) building products and (b) low-carbon technologies used to retrofit homes to improve (i) indoor air quality, (ii) energy efficiency and (iii) the health of occupants.

Jesse Norman: The Government already makes available a reduced rate of VAT on the installation of energy efficient products, including solar panels and micro combined heat and power units, when certain conditions are met. Extending the current VAT relief would come at a significant cost to the Exchequer, and there are no current plans to extend the scope of the relief already in place. However, the Government keeps all taxes under review.

Directors: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether directors of limited companies are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: Directors who pay themselves a salary through a PAYE scheme are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. For periods from 1 November 2020 to 30 April 2021, an employer can claim for employees employed on or before 30 October 2020. The employer must have also made a PAYE Real Time Information submission to HMRC between 20 March 2020 and 30 October 2020, notifying a payment of earnings for that employee.

Amazon: Corporation Tax

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to extend the Digital Services Tax to goods provided directly from Amazon.

Jesse Norman: The Digital Services Tax is a tax that ensures search engines, social media platforms, and online marketplaces pay UK tax that reflects the value they derive from UK users. The Government is unable to discuss tax in relation to specific businesses. The DST is a temporary measure and will be removed once an appropriate global solution is in place.

Retail Trade: Internet

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the tax per transaction for retail purchases that are made (a) online and (b) offline.

Jesse Norman: The Government published a Call for Evidence on 21 July, as part of its Fundamental Review of Business Rates, to gather views from stakeholders on all elements of the Business Rates system and a number of alternative taxes including an Online Sales Tax. One of the objectives of the Call for Evidence was to understand the impact of business rates on various sectors, including retailers. The Government is considering responses to the Business Rates Review and will respond in due course.

Off-payroll Working: Hampstead and Kilburn

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of IR35 changes on businesses in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of delaying the implementation of IR35 changes until April 2022.

Jesse Norman: The Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) published at Spring Budget 2021 sets out that the reform of the off-payroll working rules is expected to affect up to 60,000 medium and large enterprises, about 180,000 individuals working through their own companies, and approximately 20,000 agencies nationally. The TIIN can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/off-payroll-working-rules-from-april-2021/off-payroll-working-rules-from-april-2021. No specific assessment has been made of the potential effect on businesses in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency. The changes to the off-payroll working rules come into effect on 6 April 2021 and were legislated for in Finance Act 2020. Further delay to the implementation of the reform would have very significant drawbacks. As well as the fiscal cost, it would prolong the fundamental unfairness of taxing two people differently for the same work. It would also extend the disparity between the private and voluntary sectors, and the public sector, where the reform has been in place since 2017.

Revenue and Customs: Expenditure

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual resource departmental expenditure budget of HM Revenue and Customs has been in each year since 2010.

Jesse Norman: The table below shows HM Revenue and Customs annual resource budget each year from 2010-11 to 2020-21 as set out in the Published Supplementary Estimates.  YearDepartmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) Administration Budget £'000Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) Programme Budget £'000Total Resource DEL Budget £'0002010-113,784,26003,784,2602011-12974,7652,791,5993,766,3642012-13962,9412,727,9913,690,9322013-14880,2712,774,4543,654,7252014-15832,6042,685,7903,518,3942015-16855,1772,752,8643,608,0412016-17899,8112,961,4353,861,2462017-18870,6473,110,7103,981,3572018-19966,1113,108,6634,074,7742019-201,037,2203,333,2344,370,4542020-211,110,1183,851,3414,961,459 Note: This table includes depreciation. This table excludes Capital expenditure, Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) and Non-Budget Spending.

Royal Opera House: Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2021 to Question 163647, if he will publish information on the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme specifically in relation to theatrical freelances whose self-employment income was incorrectly classified as PAYE by the Royal Opera House.

Jesse Norman: The Government is unable to comment on specific cases due to taxpayer confidentiality.

Capital Allowances

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the total value of planned capital investment that will be brought forward into the two-year eligibility period for super-deduction from future financial years.

Jesse Norman: The OBR provides independent scrutiny of Budget measures (and considers HM Treasury analysis as part of this process). The OBR has said that, at its peak in the financial year 2022-23, the super-deduction will bring forward 10% of business investment with a value of £20bn. The economic impacts of the super-deduction are incorporated in the OBR’s forecasts contained within its Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which is available online.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Self-assessment

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2021 to Question 166463 on Taxation: Self-assessment, how many and what proportion of people already in receipt of a Self-Employed Income Support Scheme grant received prior notice that failure to submit a tax return for the tax year 2019-20 by (a) 2 March 2021 or (b) any other date would result in them being ineligible for the fourth and fifth grants.

Jesse Norman: The Government announced at Budget 2021 on 3 March 2021 that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will continue until September, with a fourth and a final fifth grant. This provides certainty on the policy to business as the economy reopens and means that the SEISS continues to be one of the most generous schemes for the self-employed in the world. The Chancellor also announced that the fourth and fifth SEISS grants would be based on 2019-20 Self-Assessment tax returns and individuals must have submitted their 2019-20 tax return by 2 March 2021. The effect of this is that more than 600,000 people are brought into scope who either became self-employed in 2019-20, or were ineligible for previous grants but now may be eligible for the fourth grant on the basis of submitting their 2019-20 Self Assessment tax return. As in previous years HMRC ran a prominent communications campaign in order to prompt taxpayers to file their return by the due date. This year, in addition, they issued further press releases during February, complemented by messaging via social media and, where possible, direct emails and SMS texts to taxpayers who had not yet filed returns, and their agents. HMRC analysis of filing volumes around this period suggests that an estimated 97% of individuals who claimed the third SEISS grant (about 2.1 million people) had submitted their 2019-20 Self-Assessment tax return by 28 February.

Business: Insurance

Justin Madders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of Business interruption insurance claims that have been paid out since the Supreme Court ruling.

John Glen: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. The FCA has set out its expectation that insurers should move quickly to resolve claims as determined by the Supreme Court judgment, making interim payments wherever possible. The Government is working closely with the FCA to ensure that the rules are being upheld during this crisis and fully supports the regulator in its role.

Credit Cards and Mortgages: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending (a) mortgage and (b) credit card payment holidays during the covid-19 outbreak until September 2021.

John Glen: Mortgage and consumer credit payment holidays have helped support borrowers to manage their finances through a period of uncertainty. Borrowers who have not yet taken a payment holiday are still able to apply for one. Borrowers who have taken an initial payment holiday will be able to top this up to six months. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA’s) guidance released on 17 November sets out that this will remain an option for borrowers until 31 March 2021. However, the FCA guidance also notes that all payment holidays will need to end by 31 July. For borrowers that have already taken a full six months payment holiday, the FCA’s guidance sets out that firms should continue to provide support through tailored forbearance options. This could include granting new mortgage payment holidays. As borrowers still requiring assistance after that point could be in serious financial distress the FCA believe it is right that lenders are able to understand their financial position in order to lend responsibly. Over 2.75 million mortgage payment holidays and over 2.5 million consumer credit payment holidays have been provided since the start of the pandemic.

Stock Market: Internet

Drew Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of further regulatory controls by the Financial Conduct Authority to prevent organisations from promoting their products as inherently based around a share index as opposed to other forms of entity such as gambling platforms.

John Glen: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) prevents the communication of invitations or inducements to engage in investment activity or claims management activities (otherwise known as financial promotions) unless the communication is made or approved by an authorised person, or subject to an exemption. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has powers under FSMA to make rules concerning the standards financial promotions must meet. Controlled activities in scope of the financial promotions regime are set out in legislation. The advertisement of any activities which are not controlled activities is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority. FSMA also specifies that certain regulated activities can only be carried out by authorised or exempt persons. Offering contracts and/or products with the purpose of securing profit or avoiding loss by reference to fluctuations in an index is a regulated activity and therefore can only be carried out by such persons. Gambling platforms are regulated by the Gambling Commission which requires gambling platforms to comply with Advertising Codes administered by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Incentives

Luke Pollard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reintroducing the Job Retention Bonus; and when he plans to publish guidance on retention incentives.

Jesse Norman: The objective of the Job Retention Bonus (JRB) was to incentivise employers to retain employees between November, when the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was due to end, and the end of January 2021. However, the subsequent extension of the CJRS to April (now September) allowed employers to retain their staff during that period by covering 80% of the furloughed employees’ wages. Given this further extension to the end of September, the original policy intent of the JRB has fallen away. The Government remains committed to deploying a retention incentive at the appropriate time.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help ensure that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe can return to the UK safely from Iran.

James Cleverly: We are committed to doing everything we can to secure the immediate and permanent release of arbitrarily detained dual British nationals in Iran. We continue to raise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case at the most senior levels in the Iranian Government. The Foreign Secretary continues directly to press Foreign Minister Zarif for this and the Prime Minister has raised the issue with President Rouhani, most recently on 10 March. Our Ambassador in Tehran consistently raises our detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most recently on 15 March.  The FCDO remains in regular contact with both Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family, and we continue to provide them with all support possible. We welcome the removal of Nazanin's ankle tag, but Iran's continued treatment of her is intolerable. She must be allowed to return to the UK as soon as possible to be reunited with her family.

Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing UK support to the OSCE.

James Cleverly: The UK is a firm supporter of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), whose principles and commitments provide a roadmap for enhancing the security of all participating States. Through our annual contribution to the OSCE Unified Budget and our regular diplomatic engagement, we provide support towards the full range of OSCE work, including its autonomous human rights institutions and network of field missions.We are one of the largest financial contributors to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine. We also aim to enhance organisational effectiveness by seconding UK personnel with relevant expertise into OSCE positions. There are currently UK secondees in a number of key positions, including within the SMM and Kosovo field mission. As chair of the OSCE Security Committee in 2020 and 2021, we aim to set a wide-ranging agenda for discussion and embed lasting reforms on a range of security priorities, including serious organised crime and cyber security.

Mohammed bin Salman

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing Magnitsky-style sanctions against Mohammed bin Salman.

James Cleverly: It is not appropriate to speculate who may be designated under the sanctions regime in the future. To do this could reduce the impact of designations.

Saudi Arabia: Political Prisoners

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Saudi Arabian authorities on the treatment and detention of (a) Prince Turki bin Abdullah, (b) Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and (c) other senior political detainees in that country.

James Cleverly: We continue to monitor the cases of Prince Turki bin Abdullah and Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef. The Foreign Secretary raised a number of human rights issues during his visit to Saudi Arabia last year. On 3 March 2021, Lord Ahmad raised a number of human rights issues with the Saudi President of the Human Rights Commission. FCDO Ministers and senior officials regularly raise human rights in our engagement with the Saudi authorities. We have consistently pressed for due process and raised concerns about the use of solitary confinement, lack of family contact and allegations of torture.

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what impact assessment he has undertaken of the reduction in UK aid to Yemen.

James Cleverly: The impact of the global pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take the tough but necessary decision to temporarily reduce how much we spend on Official Development Assistance (ODA). The move to a target of spending 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) on ODA, rather than 0.7%, is a temporary measure and we will return to 0.7% when the fiscal situation allows.Over the course of our next financial year (2021/22), we will provide at least £87 million to the UN Humanitarian Appeal for Yemen, making us the 5th largest donor. This will feed 240,000 of the most vulnerable Yemenis every month, support 400 healthcare clinics and provide clean water for 1.6 million people. We will also provide one-off cash support to 1.5 million of Yemen's poorest households to help them buy food and basic supplies.

Colombia: Overseas Aid

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) financial and (b) technical support the UK provides to the Colombian (i) police and (ii) armed forces.

Wendy Morton: The UK is a key supporter of the implementation of Colombia's historic peace agreement. Over the past five years, the UK has provided £61.7 million through the Conflict, Security, and Stabilisation Fund (CSSF), which has allowed us to provide niche technical and financial support on stabilisation, policing, and transitional justice. In 2020, the UK launched a three year £2.1 million Police Innovations for Stabilisation in Colombia Programme (SCIP), which is helping the transformation of the Colombian National Police. The SCIP aims to contribute to the modernization of the police service by scaling up and improving police practices with a preventive approach, focusing on i) Community-based police prevention; ii) Transformation of large-scale social conflicts from a rights-based approach; and iii) Gender mainstreaming.Fewer than 10 UK armed forces personnel are deployed to Colombia in support of the Colombian police and armed forces, as well as in capacity building support to the Colombian Ministry of Defence, which has responsibility for both the Colombian Armed Forces and the police service.

Small Charities Challenge Fund

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the postponement of Small Charities Challenge Fund funding on (a) UK-based small international development charities, (b) jobs supported by the Small Charities Challenge Fund and (c) the UK achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Nigel Adams: The impact of the global pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take the tough but necessary decision to temporarily reduce how much we spend on Official Development Assistance (ODA). We are currently working through the implications of these changes for individual programmes, including for Small Charities Challenge Fund. No decisions have yet been made.The UK remains fully committed to the Sustainable Development Goals. Everyone has a role to play to achieve them including communities, local government, the private sector, and civil society.

Overseas Aid: Health Services

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding was allocated to basic health in each of the last ten years.

Wendy Morton: Information on Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding allocated to the health sector in each of the last ten years is available through the Statistics on International Development (SID) reports. These are published on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statistics-on-international-development.In 2019, we spent around £1.4 billion on bilateral programmes to improve health outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable. The UK also makes significant contributions to global health through multilateral organisations. Approximately £790 million of imputed multilateral expenditure was spent on the health sector in 2019. The 2020 figures on health spend will be published in Autumn 2021.

British Overseas Territories: Carbon Emissions

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many of the UK’s Overseas Territories have introduced a Net Zero target in line with UK Government policy.

Nigel Adams: Ahead of COP26, each of the UK's inhabited Overseas Territories intends to communicate their plan for climate change adaptation and mitigation, which will contribute towards global carbon emission reductions.

Overseas Aid: Gift Aid

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what was the total Official Development Assistance spend on Gift Aid was in 2020-21; and what allocation has been set for 2021-22.

Nigel Adams: Official Development Assistance (ODA) is reported on a calendar year basis. The FCDO National Statistics publication, 'Statistics on International Development', which is due to be published on 8 April, will provide a breakdown of high-level UK ODA spend for 2020, including the estimate of ODA eligible Gift Aid claimed by international development charities.ODA eligible Gift Aid is determined by the estimated amount of Gift Aid claimed and then spent by charities on ODA eligible activities. As such, it does not have an allocated budget. ODA eligible Gift Aid spend for 2021 will be published in 'Statistics on International Development' in Spring 2022.

British Overseas Territories: UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether British Overseas Territories Governments are planned to be represented in the wider UK delegation to COP15 in China.

Nigel Adams: The UK's ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) does not automatically extend to the Overseas Territories (OTs), but to date the CBD has been extended to five of the UK OTs - British Virgin Islands, St Helena, Ascension Island & Tristan da Cunha, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Falkland Islands.The make-up of the UK delegation to CBD COP15 will be confirmed closer to the time and will be dependent on the conference agenda and format.

Senegal: Politics and Government

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Senegalese counterpart on the recent unrest in that country.

James Duddridge: The UK Government was concerned by the recent unrest and violence in Senegal, including reports of protesters being killed following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Our condolences go to the families of all those affected.The British Embassy in Dakar released a joint statement on 7 March 2021 alongside international partners, including the US, Canada and the EU. We expressed our collective concern over the violent incidents witnessed across the country and called on all parties to exercise restraint, restore calm and engage in dialogue.On 12 March, our ambassador to Senegal met Foreign Minister Sall to discuss recent events. We are monitoring the situation closely and I plan to speak to my counterpart soon.

British Overseas Territories: UN Climate Conference 2021

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last met with representatives of British Overseas Territories to discuss COP26.

Nigel Adams: The UK Government is working closely with all Overseas Territories (OTs) in the lead up to COP26, and UK Officials regularly meet with representatives from the OTs to ensure that their unique perspectives are accurately represented. The UK Government is also designing a specific package to support Territory Governments in the run up to COP26 and beyond. In November 2020, the UK hosted a Joint Ministerial Council for the OTs which included sessions on COP26 and Environmental Protection, led by Lord Goldsmith. At this meeting, territory leaders pledged to work with the UK to secure an ambitious agreement to tackle climate change at COP26. By the time of the Summit, each territory government will have endeavoured to communicate their plan for climate change adaptation and mitigation.The President of COP26 has also asked his Regional Ambassador for Latin America and the Caribbean for COP26 to act as a liaison point for the OTs.

Tigray: Internally Displaced People

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department has provided to displaced people in Tigray, Ethiopia.

James Duddridge: The conflict in Tigray has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, internally and externally, as well as adversely impacting upon those that were already in need of humanitarian assistance. The UK has been consistent in calling for free and unfettered humanitarian access to those people in need, now estimated at 4.5 million. The Foreign Secretary raised the need for humanitarian access to Tigray with Prime Minister Abiy during his recent visit to Ethiopia and pressed for a political dialogue to bring lasting peace to the region. I re-enforced the urgency of the need for humanitarian access when I spoke with the Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK on 24 February.The UK is working closely with humanitarian and development agencies to make sure aid reaches civilians affected by the fighting. UK-funded aid agencies in Tigray are delivering support in challenging circumstances, including food, shelter, water and healthcare. A joint humanitarian and political team from the British Embassy in Addis Ababa visited Mekelle on 5 March. They met with the provisional administration of Tigray, the mayor of Mekelle, humanitarian agencies and people displaced by the violence. The Embassy team heard harrowing accounts of human rights violations, the challenges of aid delivery and how some of the £15.4 million of UK Aid is helping to support those affected by the Tigray conflict. The Government of Ethiopia must act now to protect its people.

British Overseas Territories: UN Climate Conference 2021

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether British Overseas Territories Governments are planned to be represented in the wider UK delegation to COP26.

Nigel Adams: We want all parts of the British family to contribute to a successful COP26, including the Overseas Territories with their unique perspective. We are currently developing the policy for those who will be included under the COP26 UK delegation. It is too early to confirm names at this stage.

Overseas Aid: Charities

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2021 to Question HL11567 on Overseas Aid: Charities, what assessment he has made of the role of small UK-based international development charities in helping his Department meet its seven core development priorities as part of preparing Official Development Assistance budgets for 2021-22; what plans he has to engage with civil society organisations on those budgets.

Nigel Adams: Civil society organisations have a significant role to play in delivering the seven core priorities. We recognise the unique role played by small UK-based international development charities in understanding and connecting with local communities and delivering support to the most marginalised and vulnerable, including during the latest COVID-19 crisis.We will share further information with civil society organisations to start working through implications of decisions once they are taken, and we intend to work closely with our partners to implement any changes.

Africa: Family Planning and Genito-urinary Medicine

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding was spent in Africa on (a) family planning and (b) reproductive health programmes by the former Department for International Development in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016, (iii) 2017, (iv) 2018, (v) 2019 and (vi) 2020.

James Duddridge: The table below provides total bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend by former Department for International Development in Africa on family planning and reproductive health between 2015 and 2019. £Millions 20152016201720182019Family planning38.726.776.3111.0183.4Reproductive health care96.4146.7124.4121.9105.0Source: Statistics on International Development: Final UK Aid spend 2019In the Autumn, FCDO will publish "Statistics on International Development: Final UK Aid Spend 2020". This publication will contain detailed breakdowns including finalised UK bilateral ODA by sector.

Scotland: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many jobs in his Department will be created in Scotland at each grade in each year until 2025.

Nigel Adams: On 15 March 2020, the UK Government announced that 500 FCDO roles will move to the department's existing base in East Kilbride by 2025. The future size and shape of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is yet to be established. This will be determined in coming months through ongoing organisational design work, the outcome of the integrated review, and development of a workforce strategy which will include a roadmap for how we will meet our 2025 target.

African Union: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding was allocated to the covid-19 response funding to the African Union in 2020-21.

Nigel Adams: The UK has allocated £20 million in 2020-21 to the African Union's Covid-19 Response Fund.

Sanctions

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which Minister is responsible for managing and updating the list of British sanctions against individuals and companies.

Nigel Adams: The UK Government publishes the UK sanctions list on GOV.UK website, which provides details of those individuals and entities designated under sanctions regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act. When the UK Government makes a decision to create, change or remove a sanctions designation, it will update the UK sanctions list. All designations will need to meet the legal tests as set out in the Sanctions Act, which includes ensuring designations are underpinned by robust evidence. As set out in the legislation, designation decisions are for the Secretary of State.

Human Rights

Ed Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations in Amnesty International's report entitled, On the Human Rights Frontline: how the UK Government can defend the defenders, published on 10 March 2021.

Nigel Adams: We welcome Amnesty International's continued championing of Human Rights Defenders, and are considering carefully the request from Amnesty and other NGOs for a UK Government strategy on Human Rights Defenders. The UK strongly supports Human Rights Defenders worldwide to help enable them to carry out their work safely and without fear. In 2019, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon launched the document 'UK support for Human Rights Defenders' which was drawn up with significant and important input from relevant stakeholders, including Amnesty International, and which sets out how the UK Government engages with Human Rights Defenders to advance the human rights agenda globally. In the context of the establishment of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the recently published Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, we will consider what more the UK can do to support Human Rights Defenders in the future.

Coronavirus: International Cooperation

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding was allocated to the covid-19 Therapeutics Accelerator in 2020-21.

Nigel Adams: The UK has committed up to £40 million of UK aid to the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator. In 2020-21 FCDO allocated £5.6 million to the initiative to support the rapid development of, and access to, treatments for COVID-19 for the benefit of developing countries.

Myanmar: Politics and Government

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to urge the (a) UN Secretary-General and (b) Security Council to intensify diplomatic pressure on the regime in Myanmar, including with a high-level visit to that country and region.

Nigel Adams: The UK has been at the forefront of the international response to the coup in Myanmar, particularly at the UN Security Council. Following the coup, we urgently convened the UN Security Council and secured a statement on 4 February. In response to escalating violence we convened the Council again on 5 March and secured a Presidential Statement on 10 March condemning violence against peaceful protestors.We welcome the strong statements from the UN Secretary General in response to the coup and subsequent violence. We are working with his office, and with partners, to explore all options such as a high-level visit to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis. I have met the United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar to discuss our concern at the coup and how we can ensure a coordinated international response.

China: Judges

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided for the training of Chinese judges through the work of the Great-Britain China Centre since 2015; and how many Chinese judges the Great-Britain China Centre has trained that date.

Nigel Adams: The Great Britain China Centre (GBCC), an arms-length public body independent from Government, facilitates dialogue with China on issues of importance to the UK. It currently receives £500,000 per annum in funding from the FCDO. GBCC uses this funding to support the UK Government's China objectives, including by delivering projects on rule of law and judicial cooperation. GBCC engages with legal professionals through a wide variety of forums, including the UK-China Joint Judicial Expert Working Group on Commercial Dispute Resolution and the UK-China Rule of Law Roundtable. Such initiatives are not training programmes, but instead dialogues that help to foster a better understanding of legal and judicial systems in China and the UK, and promote the rule of law as a key UK value. Given the nature of such dialogues, it is not possible to establish with precision how many Chinese judges have been engaged since 2015.

Libya: Politics and Government

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has of the potential effect of the formation of a unity government in Libya in March 2021 on the prospects for long term peace that country.

James Cleverly: The UK welcomes the endorsement by the House of Representatives of the new Government of National Unity in Libya, charged with leading the country to elections. This outcome is an important step on the path towards the unification of Libyan institutions and a comprehensive political solution that ultimately makes Libya more stable, secure and prosperous. The Government of National Unity must now work to hold national parliamentary and presidential elections in December 2021, improve the delivery of services to the Libyan people, and prioritise implementation of the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries.

Syria: War Crimes

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that the perpetrators of war crimes in Syria are held to account.

James Cleverly: The UK strongly supports efforts to hold perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria to account. Since 2012 we have provided over £13m to support Syrian and international efforts to gather evidence of human rights abuses and violations perpetrated during the Syrian Conflict. This includes over £1.2m in support to the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM). We will shortly complete an information sharing agreement with the IIIM to strengthen accountability for crimes and abuses committed in Syria. This month I hosted an event at the 46th Human Rights Council focused on accountability, where I reiterated the UK's commitment on the issue and explored next steps with partners.The UK has also supported the Commission for International Justice and Accountability to collect evidence and build cases for prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. These efforts played a critical role in achieving the first conviction of a former member of Daesh, and the first court ruling worldwide over state-sponsored torture by the Assad regime in Koblenz, convicting Eyad al-Gharib for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria. This sends a clear message that abuses in Syria will not go unpunished.

Syria: Overseas Aid

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent reductions in UN-authorised cross-border aid mechanisms on the delivery of UK-funded health programmes in Syria.

James Cleverly: The reduction of UN-mandated cross-border aid has made access to essential healthcare services even more difficult for millions across Northern Syria. Only 6% of public hospitals in the north-east are assessed to be fully functioning. In the North West, widespread food insecurity has led to stunted growth for one-third of children, one in nine pregnant women are malnourished, and COVID-19 is further exacerbating ongoing healthcare issues. The current UN cross-border aid mechanism is critical to ensure the successful delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to hard-to-reach populations such as north-west Syria, with other 330,000 vaccines to be distributed via Turkey.The UK is clear that no other mechanism can replace the scale and scope of the UN operations in northern Syria, and strongly supports the renewal of UNSCR 2533, so that UN operations can continue to meet the needs in North West Syria, avoiding further humanitarian disaster.

Colombia: Military Aid

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many UK armed forces personnel are stationed in Colombia to assist with training the Colombian police force.

Wendy Morton: Fewer than ten members of the UK armed forces are deployed to Colombia to assist the Colombian police service.

West Bank: Palestinians

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recent report by Israeli NGOs Yesh Din, Physicians for Human Rights Israel and Breaking the Silence, on the widespread practice of Israeli military invasions of Palestinian homes in the West Bank.

James Cleverly: We are aware of the report by Yesh Din. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the Israeli security forces' rules of engagement. While we recognise Israel's legitimate need to deploy security measures, we encourage them to deploy these in a way which minimises tension and to use appropriate force.

Israel: Palestinians

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on reports that a 15-year-old boy, Ali Ayman Saleh Abu Alia, was shot with live ammunition by Israeli forces on 4 December 2020.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the nine Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in 2020, if he will make representations to the Government of Israel about the continued use of live ammunition against Palestinian children.

James Cleverly: The Government is aware of the high numbers of Palestinians, including children, killed by Israel Defence Forces in the West Bank and Gaza. I expressed my sadness on hearing of the death of Palestinian child Ali Ayman Abu Alaya, following clashes between the Israeli Defence Forces and Palestinian civilians. We continue to urge Israel to ensure that its investigation into this case is swift and comprehensive. We also continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire.

BBC Arabic Service

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2021 to Question 159293, Israel: BBC Arabic Service, whether his Department's grant-in-aid to the BBC World Service is conditional on editorial impartiality; and what assessment he has made of the impartiality of that service's editorial line on matters relating to Israel.

James Cleverly: The FCDO does not provide grant-in-aid funding to the BBC World Service. Through the World2020 Programme we provide funding for digital enhancements to the BBC Arabic service. The BBC is editorially and operationally independent from Government, so it would not be appropriate to agree objectives of this kind with the BBC. Questions about impartiality or perceived bias are matters for the BBC Board.

Israel: BBC Arabic Service

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 March 2021 to Question 159292, on Israel: BBC Arabic Service, what assessment he has made of whether BBC World Service programming has met his Department's agreed objectives on matters relating to Israel.

James Cleverly: The FCDO does not provide grant-in-aid funding to the BBC World Service. Through the World2020 Programme we provide funding for digital enhancements to the BBC Arabic service. The BBC is editorially and operationally independent from Government, so it would not be appropriate to agree objectives of this kind with the BBC. Questions about impartiality or perceived bias are matters for the BBC Board.

Overseas Aid: Family Planning

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has plans to continue until 2022 with the five-year family planning spending commitments made in 2017 to FP2020, shortly to be renamed FP2030.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has plans to maintain the same level of spending on family planning beyond 2022 as previously committed to by the Department for International Development as part of FP2020.

Wendy Morton: An estimated 218 million women of reproductive age (15-49) in low and middle income countries want to avoid or delay pregnancy but for a range of reasons are not currently using modern contraception. That is why the UK is a major stakeholder in the FP2020 global partnership and its follow-on partnership, FP2030.The UK is proud to advance universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to modern family planning methods in the world's poorest countries. Between 2019-2020 alone, UK aid helped over 25 million women and girls use modern methods of contraception. We are working through the implications of the ODA reductions for individual programmes and activities. No decisions on individual country or sectoral budgets have been made yet.

Inter-agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to aid charities on joining the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment on the potential effect on The Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme of planned reductions in UK aid.

James Cleverly: DFID and now the FCDO have been consistently supportive of the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS) since it was launched at the October 2018 Safeguarding Summit. FCDO's Safeguarding Unit is a member of the MDS Steering Committee.The September 2020 UK strategy: Safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment within the aid sector stated that we are actively encouraging organisations to sign up to the MDS. FCDO Ministers, including the Secretary of State, publicised the MDS during events in Parliament in November 2020 and January 2021. Senior officials from FCDO's Safeguarding Unit regularly encourage delivery partners, including aid charities, to sign up.We have not provided any funding to the MDS.We have not carried out an assessment of the effectiveness of the scheme, but data published in February shows that in the two years since the MDS began, over 7,600 sets of misconduct data have been shared thanks to the scheme, resulting in 75 hires being stopped and so helping keep individuals safe from potential risk of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment linked to the delivery of aid.

Inter-agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

James Cleverly: DFID and now the FCDO have been consistently supportive of the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS) since it was launched at the October 2018 Safeguarding Summit. FCDO's Safeguarding Unit is a member of the MDS Steering Committee.The September 2020 UK strategy: Safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment within the aid sector stated that we are actively encouraging organisations to sign up to the MDS. FCDO Ministers, including the Secretary of State, publicised the MDS during events in Parliament in November 2020 and January 2021. Senior officials from FCDO's Safeguarding Unit regularly encourage delivery partners, including aid charities, to sign up.We have not provided any funding to the MDS.We have not carried out an assessment of the effectiveness of the scheme, but data published in February shows that in the two years since the MDS began, over 7,600 sets of misconduct data have been shared thanks to the scheme, resulting in 75 hires being stopped and so helping keep individuals safe from potential risk of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment linked to the delivery of aid.

Myanmar: Health Professions

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of reports of attacks on medical professionals and first-aiders by the military in Myanmar; and steps he plans to take in response to such reports.

Nigel Adams: The UK is appalled at the news that protestors and medical professionals have been subject to attacks inflicted by the military. The violent crackdown on peaceful protesters and other human rights violations is completely unacceptable and requires a strong answer from the international community. The UK has coordinated a strong international response including through the UN Security Council and the G7. We have also sanctioned nine individuals for their role in serious human rights violations during the coup. We are exploring further measures.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Coronavirus

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will rake steps to ensure that members of the armed services returning from duty overseas are not asked to pay for covid-19 tests.

James Heappey: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for raising the question. I am looking into this as a matter of urgency and will write to her in due course.

Ministry of Defence: Social Media

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many officials in (a) his private office and (b) the wider Department have been allocated to the production and promotion of online content for use on social media in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Mr Ben Wallace: Please find below the information requested: a) SofS private office – 0 b) Wider Departmental figures are as follows:  YearTotal number of officials in the wider Department allocated to the production and promotion of online content for use on social media2018 – 2019372019 – 2020372020 – 202137

Armed Forces: Pets

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of introducing financial support for military families wishing to transport their pets to and from countries where those families are deployed.

Johnny Mercer: There are no criteria within the Local Overseas Allowance that acknowledge pets, as the provision is based on average living costs in the UK, which does not include pets. Additionally, there is no allowance or entitlement for domestic pets to use Ministry of Defence transport. Only official Service animals (police and military working dogs) and non-military working dogs (search and rescue), or assistance dogs (guide or listening dogs), may be conveyed at public expense. As such, pets are considered the personal choice and responsibility of Service personnel and their families.

Armed Forces: Pay

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the ratio of pay between an officer and a non-officer was in each year since 2010.

Johnny Mercer: The requested information can be found it the table below: Ratio of median annual salary (average Officer salary relative to average Other Ranks salary) in each year since 2010: DateOther Ranks (OR) to Officer (OF) Pay Ratio (OR : OF)01/04/20101:1.7701/04/20111:1.7701/04/20121:1.7701/04/20131:1.7701/04/20141:1.7901/04/20151:1.7701/04/20161:1.7701/04/20171:1.7301/04/20181:1.7001/04/20191:1.6601/04/20201:1.70 Notes:1. The median average (mid-point of the distribution of personnel within the rank) salaries provided in this response are calculated from the annual salaries for all Regular Officers and Other Ranks as at 1-April each year. This means that the averages are based on salary at that point in the year, not what each Service person will have been paid in total across the year, which may differ, for example due to pay rate changes and promotions. Where there was a promotion within the month of March, the new rank’s rate of pay was used in the calculation.2. Median salaries are measured as at 1 April within the financial year. Changes in the medians can therefore reflect both changes in pay rates and changes in the relative distribution of personnel within the rank.3. The year-on-year change in average pay should not be interpreted as the growth in pay that an average service person will have experienced. The data purely reflects the change in the median salary over time and it would be unrealistic to assume that an individual's pay would follow this path. Many Service personnel also benefit from an annual increment in addition to any rise recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body and, for senior officers, the Senior Salaries Review Body4. The pay structure changed significantly with the introduction of Pay 16 which accounts for the large change in ratio in 2017. A simple comparison of medians between years is not possible.5. This data uses a different method for calculating the average than the Military Salaries Index (MSI) published in the Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics and are the actual average annual salaries as at April each year.

Armed Forces: Pay

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average median pay for armed forces personnel will be in 2021-22.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the pay freeze on the household income of armed forces personnel in 2021-22.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what comparative assessment he has made of the armed forces pay increase and the projected rate of inflation in 2021-22.

Johnny Mercer: In November 2020 my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out, as part of the 2020 Spending Review, the rationale behind a public sector pay pause this year. As outlined in the Secretary of State for Defence's recent letter to the Chair of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body, covering Pay Round 2021/22, and as detailed in HM Treasury's earlier Economic Evidence to the Pay Review Bodies 2020/21, the pay pause recognises that public sector pay has been shielded from the pandemic's economic effects. It also serves to protect public sector jobs at this time of crisis whilst ensuring fairness between the public and private sectors. As such, no consideration has been given to the effect of a pay pause on average median pay; the household income of Service personnel; or a comparison with projected rates of inflation.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answers of 26 February 2021 to Questions 147867 and 160679, on Employment: Coronavirus, if she will publish the (a) eleven data sets that HSE statisticians have drawn on to inform decisions about proportionate regulation and (b) methodology used to decide that the effects of covid-19 are non-permanent or reversible, non-progressive and any disability is temporary amongst the working population as a whole, not taking account of individuals with a particular resistance or susceptibility.

Mims Davies: Earlier Questions were related to how the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has used its Enforcement Management Model (EMM) to support proportionate decision-making by its inspectors in the pandemic. HSE reviewed evidence about that proportionality in November 2020 and the paper setting out the evidence, including the technical annex containing the data considered in the review, is on HSE’s website here.

Kickstart Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what monitoring her Department is carrying out to ensure that approved jobs via the Kickstart scheme are made available and advertised.

Mims Davies: Once a Kickstart vacancy is approved, the job is uploaded on to Universal Credit system and is visible only to DWP staff. Young people who are eligible for the scheme are then matched and referred to the Kickstart jobs by their Work Coach who supports them in selecting and applying for these jobs, including giving them access to the vacancy information.

Employment: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answers of 26 February 2021 Questions 155053 and 155054 on Coronavirus and with reference to Table 1 of the Health and Safety Executive's Enforcement Management Model, if she will define what constitutes a credible risk that a fatal injury or injury that results in a permanent or irreversible disabling condition, or requires immediate treatment in hospital, or causes a permanent, progressive or irreversible condition, or causes permanent disabling, leading to a lifelong restriction of work capability or a major reduction in quality of life; and what the threshold is for meeting the criteria of credible.

Mims Davies: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) rightly takes the risk of Covid-19 in the work place seriously. HSE inspectors will take any necessary actions to ensure compliance whenever they find employers who are not meeting the Government’s COVID-19 secure standards. HSE’s Enforcement Management Model (EMM) provides a framework structure supporting consistent, sensible and proportionate decision making across a very wide range of health and safety at work risks. Regulators are expected to use their knowledge and experience as well as technical guidance to identify the categories that best fit the situation they are dealing with. EMM Table 1 describes general consequence categories of “serious,” “significant,’ and “minor” injuries and health effects, for the purposes of applying the model to guide enforcement action in relation to breaches of health and safety law. This is a tool to guide proportionate enforcement outcomes so that businesses and other dutyholders are dealt with fairly and consistently. EMM Table 1 states that a serious health effect is one which is “credible” will cause “a permanent, progressive or irreversible condition,” or be “permanently disabling, leading to a lifelong restriction of work capability or a major reduction in quality of life.” For the purposes of this model, the general harm category for any given health risk is determined by the most credible (or most likely) health outcome, rather than the most serious outcome which may result. Therefore, according to the model, the “credible outcome” for a worker’s health means the most likely health outcome when considering the working age population as a whole. It should be remembered that the EMM is simply a model and does not restrict HSE’s inspectors from taking, where appropriate, the necessary enforcement action, including notices, to ensure that workplaces are COVID secure.

Kickstart Scheme

Suzanne Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment roles have been created by the kickstart scheme to this date; and how many and what proportion of those roles have been in the technology sector.

Mims Davies: Over 150,000 job placements have been approved for the Kickstart scheme. Over 50,000 vacancies have been made available for young people, so far over 6,000 job placements have started. Over 4,000 of the vacancies are in the technology sector. Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system which has been developed quickly. The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics, but is provided in the interests of transparency.

Unemployed People: Adult Education

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many adults seeking to upskill have been referred by work coaches to adult education courses in each of the last 12 months; and what assessment her Department has made of the effect of undertaking adult education courses on employment outcomes for unemployed adults seeking work.

Mims Davies: Information relating to the number of adults seeking to upskill that have been referred by Work Coaches to adult education courses in each of the last 12 months is not centrally collated by DWP. There has not been a formal DWP assessment of the effect of undertaking adult education courses on employment outcomes for unemployed adults seeking work.

Events Industry: Kickstart Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with representatives of the live events sector on the Kickstart scheme.

Mims Davies: Ministers and officials in the Department for Work and Pensions are engaging with employers, representative bodies and organisations from all parts of the economy to ensure that there is a rich mix of jobs made available through the Kickstart Scheme. This includes discussions with the creative arts and media industries, encouraging them to participate in the scheme.

Sick Pay

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data the Government holds on the number and proportion of (a) employers who have paid and (b) employees who have received (i) statutory sick pay and (ii) occupational sick pay in the most recent period for which that information is available.

Justin Tomlinson: The first link refers to the 2018 employer survey (which tells us what % of employers pay what sick pay), second link refers to the 2014 employee survey (which tells us what % of employee are paid what sick pay). Employer Survey interim report:​https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/810840/interim-report-sickness-absence-and-health-in-the-workplace.pdf   Employee survey:​https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447127/rr901-health-and-wellbeing-at-work.pdf

Universal Credit

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many easements were approved for universal credit between March 2020 and July 2020.

Will Quince: To respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department introduced a number of national policy easements for Universal Credit, which applied to all claimants. With effect from March 2020 and until the end of June 2020, we suspended the requirements to attend appointments, undertake work preparation and work search and to be available for work for all UC claimants. At the same time, the Department also adopted a socially distanced approach to identity verification (online verification, where possible), removed the Gainfully Self-Employed test, suspended the Minimum Income Floor and suspended all face-to-face Work Capability Assessments. These measures are currently still in place. With effect from March 2020, claimants were not required to provide fit notes in person or by post to evidence their health condition. This measure became permanently incorporated into our business-as-usual practice from 23rd November 2020.

Kickstart Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has published on advertising jobs via the Kickstarter scheme; and how long vacancies should be advertised for.

Mims Davies: Once an application to the Department of Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme has been approved, along with their grant agreement, the gateway or employer receives the necessary documentation and guidance to create their job advert, that will be uploaded onto the Universal Credit system and made visible only to DWP staff. Young people are then matched and referred to the Kickstart jobs by their Work Coach who supports them in selecting and applying for these jobs - including giving them access to the vacancy information. The length of time a job is advertised is flexible to meet the employer’s needs, including how many referrals they would like and how long the vacancy will be live for. General information is available on gov.uk.

Employment: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints have been lodged with the Health and Safety Executive pertaining to employees being asked to return to a workplace during the third covid-19 national lockdown; and how that number compares with such complaints in the previous two national lockdowns.

Mims Davies: Data pertaining specifically to employees being asked to return to a workplace during the pandemic is not captured in the complaints (or ‘workplace concerns’) submitted to the Health and Safety Executive. Data captured for Covid related complaints pertains to social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), general complaints (where these are not social distancing or PPE related) and unknown complaints (where multiple issues are disclosed and the categories are too narrow to describe the complaint fully).

Kickstart Scheme: Applications

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average number of applications is from eligible young people for each Kickstart placement.

Mims Davies: Data regarding the average number of applications from eligible young people for each Kickstart job is not available.

Kickstart Scheme: Staff

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will provide a breakdown of from where officials in her Department have been moved in order to staff the Kickstart scheme.

Mims Davies: Members of staff have been redeployed to support the Kickstart Scheme from all parts of the Department for different periods of time. We currently have over 400 staff working to process applications to the scheme. This resource picture changes according to demand and as members of staff return to their previous roles.

Poverty

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the findings of research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which states that 56% of people in poverty are in a working family, compared to 39% 20 years ago.

Will Quince: No assessment has been made.

Means-tested Benefits

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what calculation is used to determine the appropriate capital threshold limits for welfare benefits which are means tested and which are not payable in the event that a claimant holds savings or capital above the set threshold.

Will Quince: The capital thresholds strike a balance between protecting less well-off people and the taxpayer, whilst at the same time recognising the conscientious efforts of people who have built up capital. This limit also ensures that the help which comes from taxpayers, many of whom are themselves on low incomes and have limited capital, is directed to people who need it most. Whilst it is important to encourage saving, it has never been thought right for substantial amounts of capital to be ignored, therefore it is also reasonable that there should be a capital limit above which benefits are not available. The current system allows people to continue to receive benefit even though they may have an amount of capital, by gradually reducing the level of their entitlement.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bivalve Molluscs: UK Trade with EU

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of granting equivalence with the EU regulations for bivalve molluscs; and what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on supporting bivalve mollusc exporters in (a) Ynys Môn constituency and (b) the UK.

Victoria Prentis: There is no scientific or technical justification for the European Commission banning this trade in live bivalve molluscs from GB from Class B waters. Our exports remain of high quality. We are continuing to apply the same rules that we did before EU Exit, exactly reflecting those of the EU. We are willing to provide additional reassurances to demonstrate shellfish health within reason, but this must recognise the existing high standards and history of trade between us. We know this is an important trade for shellfish exporters in Great Britain and the EU ban has had a significant impact on the businesses. This includes those in Ynys Môn and I have met representatives from the area. We are working with the Food Standards Agency, Cefas and others to look at grading of the waters as this may provide some help to the businesses. The current restrictions are affecting businesses on each side of the channel and we are talking to Member States in the EU whose businesses are also damaged by the ban.

Livestock: Exports

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's response to the consultation on ending live animal exports for slaughter, what assessment his Department has made of the requirements and needs of agri-food businesses whose export times necessarily exceed 24 hours.

Victoria Prentis: The public consultation ended on 25 February and we are currently analysing all the responses we received; we will be publishing the Government response in due course.

Dogs: Imports

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to facilitate the importation of rescue dogs from Bosnia after the 31 March 2021.

Victoria Prentis: Dogs imported into Great Britain (GB) for rescue or rehoming must be moved in compliance with the rules on the commercial movement of dogs. Since the transition period ended, the health requirements for entering GB have not changed and there have been no restrictions placed on the importation of rescue dogs from Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, importers must ensure that they meet the requirements as laid down by the European Union (EU) where consignments transit within the EU during the journey to GB.

Fish Farming

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of (a) antibiotics and (b) pesticides used on farmed fish in UK waters on other (i) marine life and (ii) human health.

Victoria Prentis: All veterinary medicines (including pesticides and antibiotics) used in aquaculture require a Marketing Authorisation, or an import certificate for use of products authorised in other countries, from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD); in addition, they all require a prescription from a Veterinary Surgeon. The VMD is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) that seeks to protect public health, animal health, and the environment and promotes animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines in the United Kingdom. The VMD is responsible for the assessment, issue, and maintenance of all national Marketing Authorisations for veterinary medicines, in accordance with UK legislation. The potential effect of medicines (including antibiotics and pesticides) used on farmed fish in UK waters, on marine life and human health, are evaluated as part of the authorisation process for the medicine. If any risks are identified as part of this process, risk mitigation measures (e.g. withdrawal periods, user safety warnings and environmental mitigations) are employed to reduce the risk to acceptable levels. The conclusions of the human and environmental impact assessments are always factored into the benefit: risk assessment, which is used to decide whether or not a product can be authorised. Even after a veterinary medicine is authorised for use in aquaculture, systems are in place to monitor any unexpected problems for either humans or the environment. The VMD continues to evaluate the safety of the products through the surveillance of suspected adverse reactions (SARs), via the Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS). Following the authorisation of veterinary medicines used in aquaculture, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are responsible for the regulation of discharges of medicines used in fish farms into the water environment in UK waters. In terms of the UK, the majority of fish farming occurs in Scottish waters. It is widely accepted that SEPA implements one of the strongest regulatory regimes for the aquaculture industry anywhere in the world, designed to strengthen the protection of the marine environment. The number of medicines that fish farmers can use in the UK is in line with other salmon producing nations in Europe. Unlike some major salmon producing countries, the UK’s approach has the added control of requiring those medicines discharged in significant quantities to meet environmental standards set to protect marine life. EA and SEPA only licence discharges to the limit of what the local environment can accommodate sustainably.

Dogs: Smuggling

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2021 to Question 157953, how many people were (a) charged with and (b) convicted of puppy smuggling last year.

Victoria Prentis: Defra does not hold data on the number of individuals charged with and convicted of puppy smuggling related offences. Local authorities are the enforcement and prosecution body for puppy smuggling related offences. In 2020, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) was notified of two prosecutions by local authorities under the following legislation: The Welfare of Animals (Transport)(England) Order 2006, The Animal Health Act 1981, The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 and The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011. However, local authorities are not required to notify Defra or APHA of prosecutions related to puppy smuggling and so this figure may not represent the total number of cases. We suspect the low number of prosecutions reported for 2020 was a result of courts being closed and cases delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Equine Herpes Virus

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for the equine population in the UK of the recent equine herpes virus 1 outbreak in Europe.

Victoria Prentis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot on 11 March 2021, PQ UIN 162616.

Export Health Certificates

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of additional Official Veterinarians required to (a) meet the demand for Export Health Certificates in Great Britain once the current authorised trader grace period for movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland comes to an end on 1 April 2021 and (b) perform physical checks when full sanitary controls are applied on imports into Great Britain from the EU from July 2021.

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of additional Official Veterinarians required to (a) meet the demand for Export Health Certificates for goods leaving Great Britain and (b) perform physical checks on imports into Great Britain from the EU in the event that the EU does not agree to extend the current grace periods.

Victoria Prentis: As part of the pragmatic and proportionate implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol, the Government is taking several temporary operational steps to avoid disruptive cliff edges as engagement with the EU continues through the Joint Committee. These recognise that appropriate time must be provided for businesses to implement new requirements and support the effective flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.For supermarkets and their suppliers, as part of the operational plan the UK committed to at the UK-EU Joint Committee on 24 February, the current scheme for temporary agrifood movements to Northern Ireland (STAMNI) will continue until 1 October in which they do not need to complete health certificate paperwork for agri-food produce. Certification requirements will then be introduced in phases alongside the roll-out of the digital assistance scheme.Once STAMNI arrangements end, we estimate demand for Export Health Certificates (EHCs) for movements to Northern Ireland may increase by between 70,000 and 150,000 per year. Up to 70 FTE Official Veterinarians (OVs) may be required to certify these EHCs. The actual number of EHCs and OV requirement will depend on multiple factors, many of which we cannot quantify with certainty. The number of OVs qualified to certify exports of products of animal origin has increased from 600 in February 2019 to more than 1,700 currently. Defra has provided £14 million funding to local authorities in England to support Port Health Authorities with the recruitment and training of over 500 new staff, including Official Veterinarians, for the purpose of undertaking new checks on EU imports of animal products, including physical checks.

Aquaculture: Finance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department is providing to (a) tilapia farmers and (b) other aquaculture businesses.

Victoria Prentis: In England funding is available through the Maritime and Fisheries Fund for applications from aquaculture businesses, including those that farm tilapia, looking to make the fisheries and aquaculture sectors more sustainable or to conserve the marine environment, as well as those seeking to adapt their seafood businesses to new trading requirements following EU exit. This funding is delivered by the Marine Management Organisation. Seafood businesses in the rest of the UK should contact their fisheries administrations to see what development support may be available to them.In addition to this funding, on 9 March the Government opened the Seafood Response Fund which provides a one off grant payment to help businesses cover up to three months of average fixed costs between January and March 2021. This emergency scheme is targeted at catching and shellfish aquaculture businesses. All eligible business will be contacted and invited to apply by the Marine Management Organisation and we expect all payments to be made by 31 March.

Organic Farming

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Government's commitment to pursue an ambitious new course for the organic sector on 27 January 2021, what specific steps the Government will take to meet this objective.

Victoria Prentis: The Government is taking a multi-pronged approach to support the organic sector. We are working with organic businesses to expand organic exports, whilst working to reduce administrative burden. We are also considering how the new environmental land management schemes under development can best meet the needs of organic producers. We aim to design and administer environmental land management schemes in a way that will support farming and the countryside to make a significant and widespread contribution to environmental, biodiversity and climate change goals, which organic farming can support. The sector is well placed to export more as UK organic produce clearly demonstrates values such as quality, traceability, and heritage combined with high environmental and welfare credentials which we know consumers across the globe want. To support this we have agreed equivalence arrangements with a number of countries to allow UK organic goods to be exported there, including a mutual recognition with the EU as part of the Trade and cooperation agreement. We are also working alongside the Department for International Trade who recently launched their new programme, Open Doors, and is working with the sector to support them with export opportunities. The domestic market for organics is also flourishing. There are 6,000 predominantly small and medium-sized UK organic businesses, which in 2019 contributed over £2.5 billion to the UK economy, including exports worth £250 million. In 2020 the total volume of organic produce purchased in the UK rose by 12.9%. This growth in demand represents a great opportunity for UK organic producers, on top of their opportunities in the export market. Meanwhile, we are streamlining bureaucratic processes inherited from the EU regulatory system to allow for a more flexible and responsive way to handle our regulatory obligations while reducing costs and the burden on the public purse. We intend to use powers under the Agriculture Act 2020 to amend this organics regime to support organic farmers further, benefit the environment, maintain consumer confidence, promote research and innovation in the sector, and reflect future trade agreements. We will consult with organic producers and industry bodies on how to boost innovation, improve governance of organic certification, group certification and making entry into organic production appealing for new entrants.

Home Office

Immigration

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of decisions made by the UK on applications for family reunification with a beneficiary of international protection in 2020 were (a) accepted and (b) rejected.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office publishes data on Family Reunion in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’.Data on grants of Family Reunion visas are published in table Fam_D01 of the asylum and resettlement detailed datasets. Data on applications and outcomes of Family Reunion visas by nationality are included in the ‘Family: other’ visa subgroup in tables Vis_D01 and Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visas detailed datasets. Although ‘family reunion’ visas are not separately available, the vast majority of ‘Family: other’ visas are family reunion.Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to year ending December 2020. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the asylum summary tables and entry clearance summary tables. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on asylum and entry clearance visas.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Members: Correspondence

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2021 to Question 160772 on Members: Correspondence, what steps she is taking to increase resources to achieve the target of responding to 95 per cent of written correspondence from hon. Members within 20 working days; and what estimate she has made of when her Department will meet that target.

Kevin Foster: UK Visas and Immigration are currently managing a recruitment campaign across its Correspondence Services to fill all vacancies by the end of April 2021.A recovery plan for responses to Hon. Members is in place and it is envisaged responses to new enquiries from Hon. Members will be back within service standard in quarter two of 2021/22.

Electronic Surveillance

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish details of the two internet service providers that are reported to be conducting trials with her Department and National Crime Agency with the intention to collect Internet Connection Records.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the legal basis is for the trials recording the Internet Connection Records of their customers, including any relevant sections of applicable legislation.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data has been (a) collected and (b) stored as part of the two trials collecting Internet Connection Records.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been (a) allocated and (b) budgeted for trials collecting Internet Connection Records.

Kevin Foster: The acquisition and retention of Internet Connection Records (ICRs) is provided for in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. ICRs are subject to restrictions set out in the Act and can only be acquired for the specific investigative purposes set out in Section 62.Acquisition of ICRs in the vast majority of cases is subject to independent authorisation by the Office for Communications Data Authorisations. The use of communications data is subject to the oversight of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPC).It is longstanding government policy not to disclose the specific communications data (CD) acquired by public authorities or retained by telecommunications operators under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) and its predecessors. This would include details of any data to be acquired or retained and the details of any Telecommunications Operators involved in any trial.It would be operationally and commercially sensitive to disclose the funding allocations for a trial or any other use of investigatory powers.

Visas: Applications

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the priority service for visa applications will be reinstated.

Kevin Foster: Priority Visa services are currently available in some locations overseas, but availability will differ by territory depending on Covid restrictions in place in a specific area at any one time. If available, customers are able to purchase these services when booking an appointment at a visa application centre.Super Priority and Priority services have also been reinstated in the UK for Work and Study routes, including applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain. It is anticipated these services for Marriage and Settlement routes in the UK will be reinstated by the end of March 2021.

Members: Correspondence

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the letter from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Immigration Detention of 22 December 2022 on the processing of individuals arriving in the UK on small boats.

Chris Philp: With apologies for the delay, a response was issued on 18 March 2021.

Immigration

Anne McLaughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UKVI applications have had an official positive decision implemented at a different time from family members under the same application in (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) in 2020.

Chris Philp: The Home Office are unable to state how many UKVI applications have had an official positive decision implemented at a different time from family members under the same application in 2018, 2019 and 2020 as this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.Asylum claims may include one or more family members who are accepted as dependant on the principal applicants claim. It is important to fully consider all the evidence available, including that provided by dependants or other family members who have made claims in their own right, and to recognise protection issues which may arise in the family context when considering such claims.Dependants of an asylum applicant who have been included in the initial asylum claim will, if the principal applicant is granted Asylum, HP, Family or Private Life leave to remain (LTR) or Discretionary Leave, normally be granted leave of the same duration and status as the principal applicant

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 8 March 2021, Government response to Consultation: Strengthening Police Powers to Tackle Unauthorised Encampments, HCWS826, what criteria the courts will be required to apply to determine whether the (a) damage, (b) disruption and (c) distress which a person (i) has or (ii) is deemed likely to cause is significant; and what assessment her Department has made of whether it will be feasible to provide sufficient clarity in such criteria to allow for the practical application of that proposed legislation.

Kit Malthouse: The Government will issue guidance relating to the exercise of the functions of police officers and constables in respect of trespassers on land. It will be for the courts to determine on a case by case basis when damage, disruption and distress is deemed to be significant.

Northern Ireland Office

Child Tax Credit: Northern Ireland

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many households in Northern Ireland are subject to the two-child limit in relation to Child Tax Credits; and how many children in total live in those households.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate the Government has made of the number of children in Northern Ireland that are in poverty as a result of the Child Tax Credit two-child limit.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the (a) Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and Work and Pensions Committee's joint recommendation, in September 2019, to halt implementation of the two-child limit in Northern Ireland, pending a full investigation into its financial impact on families with children and the potential discrimination against those with larger families and poorer communities, and (b) the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on families dependent on social security, what recent assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of undertaking that recommended investigation.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the (a) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential effect on levels of (i) poverty and (ii) child poverty in Northern Ireland of (A) maintaining the universal credit £20 uplift for at least a year and (B) extending that uplift to legacy benefits.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the CEDAW Committee's assessment of the effect of austerity measures on women in the UK, whether the Government has made an assessment of   the effect of austerity measures on women in Northern Ireland.

Mr Robin Walker: While welfare and employment are devolved matters in Northern Ireland, we have been working closely with the NI Executive throughout the pandemic and have provided substantial additional resources to enable it to respond to the crisis. The Executive holds no statistical information on the impact of welfare programmes, but there is no doubt that it is committed to combating poverty via the Anti-Poverty and Child Poverty strategies, which were agreed to in the New Decade, New Approach agreement. A range of additional support measures are available for the people of NI through the Finance Support Service, including: the Universal Credit Contingency Fund short-term living expenses grant; the Discretionary Support self-isolation grant; the short-term benefit advance; the Social Fund budgeting loan; and the Social Fund Sure Start Maternity grant. These are in addition to the welfare mitigations schemes in place. The UK Government has injected £9.3 billion to strengthen the welfare system. Increased Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit allowances will benefit those most in need by up to £1,040 this financial year. Our long-term ambition is to tackle poverty through a reformed system that works with the labour market to encourage people to move into work wherever possible. Since 2010 in the UK there are: 200,000 fewer people in absolute poverty; 100,000 fewer children in absolute poverty; and 100,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty. Moreover, absolute poverty rates have fallen in every region.

Department for International Trade

Trade in Services Agreement

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department has taken to recommence multilateral talks on the proposed Trade in Services Agreement.

Graham Stuart: Making multilateral progress on services trade liberalisation is a priority for the UK as an independent trading nation. As an active member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the UK is advancing market access negotiations through the Joint Initiatives on Services Domestic Regulation and E-Commerce, which draw on and have a much broader membership than the Trade in Services Agreement. Demonstrating further global services leadership, we are co-sponsoring exploratory market access discussions on environmental services and financial services at the WTO. We will continue to advocate strongly for services trade liberalisation in our multilateral and plurilateral engagement, including through the UK Presidency of the G7 trade track and through the G20.

Arms Trade: India

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of prohibiting the sale of weapons including water cannons, tear gas and batons to India which could be used against peaceful protestors.

Graham Stuart: HM Government takes its export control responsibilities extremely seriously. All export licences are assessed in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’). For items that require an export licence, the Consolidated Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider the possible impact of providing equipment and its capabilities. HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.

Trade Agreements: Ghana

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans she has to refund the tariffs incurred between the date on which agreement was reached in principle on the UK-Ghana Interim Trade Partnership Agreement and the date on which it came into effect.

Greg Hands: There are no plans to refund duties that were correctly charged to imports originating from Ghana until the agreement took effect.

Trade Agreements: USA

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions UK and US trade negotiators have had on the effect of a UK-US trade deal on the economies of Caribbean countries.

Greg Hands: The Scoping Assessment of the UK-US Free Trade Agreement, published on 2 March 2020, set out that the agreement could affect countries other than the UK and the US, including countries in the Caribbean region, although our modelling suggests that there would be a negligible impact on the long run GDP of these countries. UK negotiators have presented the information on potential impacts to their US counterparts as part of discussions on trade and development and seek to ensure the UK-US trade agreement supports our broader objectives on trade and development, which include supporting developing countries to reduce poverty through trade.

Trade Agreements: Canada

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what timeframe is for the free trade agreement with Canada to come into force.

Greg Hands: The UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) completed Parliamentary scrutiny in the UK under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act on 3rd February 2021, and will come into force once Canada completes its own parliamentary procedures.

Trade Agreements: Australasia

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when the draft texts of (a) the UK-Australia and (b) the UK-New Zealand trade agreements will be shared with members of the (i) Trade Advisory Group on Agri-Food and (ii) Trade and Agriculture Commission.

Greg Hands: The expertise of the Agri-food Trade Advisory Group (TAG) is drawn upon at key stages during negotiations, including on the initial Market Access offers for both the Australia and New Zealand free trade agreements. We intend to share draft text for both agreements with TAG members where this is relevant, and we have systems in place in preparation for this. Treaty text will be shared with the Trade and Agriculture Commission at a point appropriate to ensure the membership’s time and expertise is used most efficiently, and within the bounds of Parliamentary protocol.

Trade Agreements: Australia

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions have taken place between UK and Australian trade negotiators on potential UK import restrictions on meat products treated with growth-promoting antibiotics.

Greg Hands: The fourth round of negotiations on the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was held virtually from 22nd February to 5th March, covering trade in goods among other issues typically covered in a comprehensive FTA. The UK prohibits the use of artificial growth hormones in both domestic production and imported products, and is a world leader in the battle against antimicrobial resistance – significantly cutting our use of antibiotics in farming. Furthermore, all agri-food products imported into the UK under existing or future FTAs will, as now, have to comply with our import requirements, which include clear controls on limits of veterinary medicine residues in meat and other animal products.

Trade Agreements: Japan

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department has taken to mitigate the effect of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on producers in (a) Jamaica, (b) India, (c) Mauritius, (d) Pakistan, (e) South Africa, (f) Sri Lanka and (g) Vietnam.

Greg Hands: The Government’s published impact assessment identified certain products in these countries that may face greater competition when exporting to the UK as a result of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. However, it concludes that the agreement is not likely to have major implications for trade flows between the UK and these countries.[1] [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-japan-cepa-final-impact-assessment

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Members: Correspondence

Robert Largan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to respond to the enquiry from the hon. Member for High Peak, dated 26 October 2020, referenced RL13783.

Nigel Huddleston: A response was issued on 26 November 2020 under the case reference MC2020/23548/NB. A further copy of this response has since been issued to ensure receipt.

Nuisance Calls

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to help prevent aggressive cold calling of land owners by prospective buyers who contact landowners even though their land is not advertised for sale.

Mr John Whittingdale: HM Land Registry, as required by statute, includes within the register of title for England and Wales, the name and contact address details for each proprietor of a registered property. This can include email addresses, if the proprietor chooses to provide one, but it does not hold telephone numbers.For a prescribed fee, a copy of the register entries that relate to an individual registered property can be obtained. HM Land Registry does not offer free and open access to the data they hold about property ownership. It publishes its commitment to citizens’ privacy rights in a Personal Information Charter, which can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry/about/personal-information-charter#your-legal-rightsThe Hon Member’s constituents should be aware that they have a number of rights under the UK’s data protection regime, including the right to object to their data being processed and the right to erasure of their data. If the contact numbers are being held by an organisation that processes personal information, that organisation must comply with the data protection principles.If anyone is concerned about the handling of their data by any organisation, they should contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice or to make a complaint. The ICO can be contacted by telephone on 0303 123 1113 or through their live chat facility: https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/live-chat/. Further contact details are on the ICO website: https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/.

Gaming: Coronavirus

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason the Government's policy is that adult gaming centres are unable to open on 12 April 2021; and what the evidential basis is for that policy.

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2021 to Question 155057, on Gaming: Coronavirus, for what reason licensed betting offices with gaming machines are a greater social and economic priority than adult gaming centres with those machines.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his Answer of 26 February 2021 to Question 153362, if he will make an assessment of the relative economic effect of re-opening (a) Adult Gaming Centres in Step 3 and (b) Licensed Betting Offices in Step 2 of the covid-19 roadmap.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2021 to Question 153362, whether an assessment was made of the potential effect on competition in the high street gaming sector as a result of opening Licensed Betting Offices in Step 2 and Adult Gaming Centres in Step 3 of the covid-19 roadmap.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what comparative assessment he has made of the potential risks of reopening high street adult gaming centres and (a) retail venues and (b) licensed betting offices.

Mr John Whittingdale: The Government has designed the roadmap for reopening premises following careful consideration of the evidence and scientific advice. The roadmap strikes a balance between mitigating the social, health and economic impacts of closures and the need to avoid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections. It also takes account of the cumulative impact of easing restrictions and the need to assess the impact at each step. Under the current roadmap, all non-essential retail will open at Step 2, not before 12 April. Indoor entertainment and indoor leisure will open at Step 3, not before 17 May.As the business of Adult Gaming Centres consists entirely of customers playing machines within the premises, they are considered to be entertainment and will open at Step 3. The customers of Licensed Betting Offices (LBOs) may enter the premises, place a bet and leave with a betting slip, a transaction more similar to purchasing goods in a shop. While LBOs will be permitted to open at Step 2, they will be subject to a number of additional restrictions as set out in the previous Tier 3 guidance. These include showing no live sport or racing and having no chairs, as well as early closure. Under normal circumstances LBOs are limited to offering a maximum of four gaming machines and only two may be made available under these restrictions.In recognition of the impact of requiring some businesses to remain closed for a longer period, the Chancellor announced an enhanced package of support at the Budget, including Restart Grants of up to £18,000 per premises, specifically for those which must remain closed beyond Step 2.

Football Index

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking in response to the suspension of Football Index's licence; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of regulation of the gambling industry in relation to Football Index; and what protection is available to people who have funds deposited with that company.

Mr John Whittingdale: The government recognises the concerns of Football Index customers and is monitoring the situation closely. The Gambling Commission has suspended the operator’s licence while it carries out an investigation and has made clear it expects the operator to focus on treating customers fairly. Further information is available at: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/News/information-notice-suspension-of-licence-betindex-limited

National League: Coronavirus

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish all meeting minutes from all meetings between his Department and the National League, in relation to funding support for National League football clubs.

Nigel Huddleston: I am content to share copies of all my written correspondence with the National League with the Hon Member’s office which detail my discussions with them on this issue. On 19 November 2020 I gave a statement to the House on the principles of the Sports Winter Survival Package, which was open to National League clubs.

Broadband and 5G: Wakefield

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Wakefield benefits from the rollout of (a) superfast broadband and (b) 5G.

Matt Warman: Since its inception in 2012, the Superfast Broadband programme has delivered superfast broadband coverage to 5.3 million premises, which constitutes 17% of all households in the UK. As part of this programme, to date, superfast coverage has been provided to c12,000 premises within the Wakefield District. According to Thinkbroadband (http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E14001009), superfast broadband speeds in the Wakefield constituency are above the national average with superfast connectivity (>=30Mbps) of 98%. The UK average is 96.7%, and the average in England is 97.2%. We are, however, not resting on our laurels and have a project running in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to utilise the latest Fixed Wireless technology to further deliver superfast broadband connectivity across the West Yorkshire region, including an additional 1,000 premises in the Wakefield district. The government is committed to providing world-class digital infrastructure, and our ambition is for the majority of the population to have access to 5G by 2027. Approximately 3,000 mobile base stations now provide 5G services across the UK, and it is available in 200 towns and cities including Wakefield.

Cricket: Racial Discrimination

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Racial Equality in Cricket Report, published in 1997, what assessment he has made of the England and Wales Cricket Board's progress on the implementation of the recommendations in that report.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the England and Wales Cricket Board on the (a) number of grievances raised against that Board on the grounds of (i) racial discrimination and (ii) victimisation since 2010 and (b) the number of those grievances in that period that were (A) upheld and (B) dismissed.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) African Caribbean and (b) Asian umpires have applied to be part of the England and Wales Cricket Board panel in the last 29 years; how many such applications were rejected; and on what basis those applications were rejected.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much of the £60 million Sport England budget allocated to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) between 2009 and 2017 has been spent on achieving equality and diversity on that board; and if his Department will undertake a cost benefit analysis of the money spent to date.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps Sport England takes to ensure that funding provided to the England and Wales Cricket Board achieves sustainable diversity at all levels.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the (a) ethnic and (b) gender breakdown is of the (i) management and (ii) staff of the England and Wales Cricket Board at all levels.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what bullying, harassment and anti discrimination policies apply to members of the (a) England and Wales Cricket Board, (b) County Cricket Boards and (c) County and regional management; how many allegations concerning that policy have been made against members of those boards in the last five years; and how many of those allegations have been (i) upheld and (ii) rejected.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of (a) unconscious bias and (b) anti-racism training for decision makers of the England and Wales Cricket Board and its delegated authority to its regional bodies.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) African, (b) Caribbean and (c) Asian (i) players, (ii) umpires, (iii) coaches (iv) and staff are protected when alleging (A) race discrimination, (B) ball tampering and (C) any other form of unlawful behaviour within the game.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish an annual report on the progress being made to achieve diversity and equality targets within cricket at all levels.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government is clear that racism has no place in cricket, sport, or society at large. Our sport and physical activity strategy ‘Sporting Future’ has diversity and inclusion at its heart. In addition, Sport England’s new ten year strategy, “Uniting the Movement”, reinforces their commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion in grassroots sport and physical activity. However, it is ultimately for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), as for all individual sports’ national governing bodies, to decide on the specific aims and appropriate initiatives to increase diversity in their organisations, and to evaluate progress with these. We welcome the steps taken by the ECB in recent years to increase diversity in cricket, including the recent establishment of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, chaired by Cindy Butts. This body looks to examine all issues relating to race and equity in cricket. The evaluation will play an important role in ensuring inclusivity, and that cricket is a game for everyone. Since 2009, Sport England funding has directly contributed to a number of cricket participation projects with an equality, diversity and inclusion focus run by the ECB. This is in addition to the requirements around diversity set out in the UK Sport and Sport England Code for Sports Governance since 2017. One example of the ECB’s work on diversity, funded by Sport England, is the South Asian Action Plan. This focuses on increasing racial diversity and opening up access to cricket, including facilities and delivery of bespoke formats of the sport for the community’s needs. After the success of the first investment of £1 million, this has recently been awarded an additional £1 million for the next 2 years.There is still more to do, however, and we will continue to liaise with the ECB ensure this issue is tackled effectively and that recommendations from the commission are implemented.

Sports: Coronavirus

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if spectators will be permitted to attend non-elite sport from 17 May 2021.

Nigel Huddleston: As set out in the roadmap announced by the Prime Minister on Monday 22 February, spectators at some large events will return subject to capacity caps from step 3 (expected to take place no earlier than 17 May). Government is working to produce both overarching guidance for all outdoor events and guidance for different spectator environments such as non-elite sports which will be available as we progress along the roadmap.

Culture Recovery Fund: Events Industry

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has plans to support live event supply chain businesses from the unallocated balance of the Culture Recovery Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: Of the £1.57bn Culture recovery Fund announced in July, £400m was held back as a contingency which forms the basis of the second round of grant (£300m) and repayable finance (£100m) funding. Applications are currently being assessed and allocations will be made by the end of the Financial Year.The Government recognises the severe impact the pandemic has had on supply chain businesses for the events sector and their critical role in the cultural ecosystem. Supply chain organisations were eligible for the first and second rounds of Culture Recovery Funding, and many organisations were successful in the first round. Production Park in Wakefield, for instance, is receiving a £12m loan, whilst Adlib Audio in Knowsley is receiving a grant of £1,650,356. The government’s commitment to the sector has been further evidenced by the announcement at Budget of an additional £300m for the Culture Recovery Fund. Details will be announced in due course.We will continue to engage with the sector through the ministerially chaired Events and Entertainment Working Group which include the Production Services Association, to better understand the issues facing the sector ensure live event supply chain businesses are supported.

Digital Technology: Disadvantaged

Matt Western: What steps he is taking to tackle the digital divide.

Tonia Antoniazzi: What steps he is taking to tackle the digital divide.

Caroline Dinenage: To tackle the digital divide and support connectivity we have worked with providers on social tariffs meaning low cost landline and broadband services for those on means-tested benefits. DCMS has also launched the Digital Lifeline fund to provide devices, data and support to 5000 adults with learning disabilities. In addition, to boost skills, we have made digital qualifications to level 1 for adults free of charge.

Events Industry: Coronavirus

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has made an assessment of the effect on Gross Value Added in the event that festivals and other mass participation events cannot take place in summer 2021 due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Caroline Dinenage: We appreciate the important role that the festival sector plays in the UK’s economy, and that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to this sector. We have been working closely with the festival sector to understand the challenges it faces and to keep the situation under review. The festival sector has estimated the total GVA for festivals to the UK economy is £1.76bn. The industry has also estimated that widespread cancellation of festivals in the summer could lead to a drop in GVA of £1bn (between June and August 2021).

Fairgrounds: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to guidance, Covid-19 Response - Spring 2021, at what stage the Government plans that travelling showpeople will be able to proceed with (a) fairground rides and (b) other services at (i) events and (ii) festivals.

Nigel Huddleston: Outdoor funfairs and fairgrounds operated by travelling showpeople can reopen in Step 2 - no earlier than 12 April. These events will be subject to local authority approval. The rules on social contact outdoors will apply in these settings. For Step 2, this means groups must be limited to up to 6 people or 2 households. Outdoor funfairs and fairgrounds will also need to be organised by a business, charity or similar organisation; comply with COVID-Secure guidance with reasonable steps to limit the risk of transmission and the completion of a risk assessment; and ensure that those attending do not mix beyond what is permitted by the social contact limits (unless another exemption exists, such as for work purposes, or supervised activities for children). Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres, cinemas (except drive-in) and circuses, will reopen in Step 3 - no earlier than 17 May, and at least five weeks after Step 2, following a further review of the data and the four tests.

Internet: Northern Ireland

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with (a) Ofcom and (b) web hosting and registrar companies to ensure that Northern Irish businesses are able to maintain EU website domains.

Caroline Dinenage: The .eu domain is controlled by EURid, the registry manager appointed by the European Commission. Following the end of the transition period, many UK businesses are no longer eligible to hold, register or renew a .eu domain name. Officials in my Department have carried out extensive engagement with the relevant businesses and trade associations to inform UK holders of .eu domains of this change before the end of this period. We have also engaged with the devolved administrations, including the Northern Ireland Civil Service on this issue.

UK Safer Internet Centre

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK Safer Internet Centre; and if he will ensure that the level of funding for that centre is maintained when that centre no longer receives funding from the EU.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to assist the UK Safer Internet Centre in securing a long-term funding settlement.

Caroline Dinenage: The UK Safer Internet Centre plays an important role in improving online safety in the UK, particularly for children, and is a valued member of the UK Council for Internet Safety. Officials engage regularly with the Centre on its funding position following the UK’s exit from the EU. The Centre has applied for further funding from the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility programme for the calendar year of 2021, for which the government provided a letter of support. We understand the Centre has been successful in its bid for funding but we await formal confirmation from the Centre regarding its outcome.

Social Media: Harassment

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will take steps with social media companies to tackle online abuse directed at supporters of the Indian farmers protests.

Caroline Dinenage: We are taking steps through the online harms regulatory framework to ensure that online abuse is addressed. Under a new legal duty of care, companies will need to remove and limit the spread of illegal content, including illegal online abuse. All companies will need to take swift and effective action against such content. Companies providing high-risk, high-reach services will also need to undertake regular risk assessments to identify legal but harmful material on their services. These companies will need to set clear terms and conditions which explicitly state what categories of legal but harmful material they accept (and do not accept) on their service. Companies will need to enforce these terms and conditions consistently and transparently and could face enforcement action if they do not. The new regulatory framework will require companies to address the risk of harm to users in the UK, no matter where the companies are based. The Online Safety Bill, which will give effect to the regulatory framework, will be ready this year.

Digital Technology: Disability

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the prevalence of digital exclusion among disabled people.

Caroline Dinenage: There are several sources that the government uses to understand the prevalence of digital exclusion among disabled people. Ofcom survey data from 2020 suggests that 23% of those with any limitations/impairments don’t use the internet or have home internet access. The ONS publication ‘Exploring the UK’s Digital Divide’ 2019 states that in 2017, 56% of adult internet non-users were disabled. The 2020 Lloyds Consumer Digital Index tells us that people with an impairment are 25% less likely to have the skills to access devices and get online by themselves.

Entertainers: EU Countries

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the removal of work-permit free travel for musicians and performers to and from the EU on the UK's creative industries.

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the devolved administrations on the effect on the UK's creative industries of the removal of work-permit free travel for musicians and performers to and from the EU.

Caroline Dinenage: This Government recognises the importance of touring for UK musicians, performers, other cultural and creative practitioners, and their support staff. Leaving the EU has always meant that there would be changes to how touring musicians and performers operate in the EU. UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, they will be required to check domestic immigration rules for each Member State in which they intend to tour.  We understand the concerns about the new arrangements and we are committed to supporting the sectors as they get to grips with the changes to systems and processes. The DCMS-led Working Group on Creative and Cultural Touring brings together sector representatives, other key government departments, and representatives from each of the devolved administrations. The Group is working together to provide clarity regarding the practical steps that need to be taken by touring professionals when touring the EU, and it will explore how these sectors can be supported to work and tour in the EU with confidence when it is safe to do so. We know that while leaving the EU will bring changes and new processes to touring and working in the EU, it will also bring new opportunities. In all circumstances, we expect our creative industries to continue to be as highly valued in the European Union as they are across the world.

Events Industry: Coronavirus

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will provide sector-specific support to (a) events and festivals and (b) companies in the events supply chain where covid-19 restrictions and guidance remain in force.

Caroline Dinenage: We are aware that COVID-19 and related restrictions have severely impacted these sectors and their supply chains. We continue to engage with stakeholders through the Tourism Industry Council, the Festival and Outdoor Events Working Group and the Venues Steering Group. These groups include representatives from leading sector organisations and other experts to develop action plans for how we can best support the sector’s safe reopening. Pilots will run as part of the Events Research Programme to examine how such events can take place without the need for social distancing using other mitigations such as testing. The live events and festival sectors have been eligible to access Government COVID-19 support. This includes various government-backed loans, business grants, reduction in VAT and the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes. The recently announced discretionary Local Restrictions Support Grant and Additional Restrictions Grant provides local authorities with funds to support businesses that meet the eligibility criteria. On 5th January the Chancellor announced one-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property to help businesses through to the Spring. These sectors have also benefited from the Cultural Recovery Fund (CRF). Over £1 billion worth of funding has now been allocated across the UK, including over £800 million to almost 3800 arts, culture and heritage organisations and sites in England. Supply chain organisations were eligible for the CRF. They are recognised as a critical part of the sector. An additional £300 million was announced at Budget on 3 March for the CRF.

Hospitality Industry and Leisure: Coronavirus

John Spellar: What steps he is taking to support the reopening of sport, hospitality and leisure venues during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Huddleston: In the last twelve months, billions in funding has been provided to support the hospitality and arts, entertainment and recreation sectors through a combination of grants, loans, and business rate relief. The Culture Recovery Fund and Sports Recovery packages have provided close to £2.5 billion in sector specific support. The Events Research programme, starting in April, comprises a series of scientific pilots conducted across a range of settings to explore how reopening can be facilitated safely.

Broadband: Carmarthenshire

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Broadband Upgrade Fund in Carmarthenshire.

Matt Warman: The Broadband Upgrade Fund Pilot provided an opportunity to test an innovative approach to demand stimulation in the broadband market. The final stage of the Broadband Upgrade Fund only recently completed, in January 2021, and many suppliers are still in the process of engaging with communities to put together project proposals to submit to BDUK for approval. Therefore, a full assessment of the effectiveness of the Broadband Upgrade Fund Pilot will be undertaken once there has been sufficient opportunity for proposals to turn into gigabit capable connections.However, an initial assessment shows that communities in Carmarthenshire were particularly active, with over 3,200 residents and small to medium sized businesses registering their interest in the Broadband Upgrade Fund. Suppliers were also equally responsive to the demand identified in Carmarthenshire. Around 98% of businesses and residents who registered for the pilot received at least one offer from a broadband supplier, with 96% receiving two or more offers.

Events Industry: Insurance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing Government-backed covid-19 cancellation Insurance for the live events sector.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government is aware of the concerns which have been raised about the challenge of securing indemnity cover for live events. My officials continue to work closely with the affected sectors to understand all barriers to reopening, including potential challenges around indemnity cover. Understandably, the bar for considering Government intervention is set extremely high, especially in light of recent announcements including the extension to the furlough scheme and local business support. My officials are continuing to collect evidence of all of the barriers live events are facing to reopening, including access to indemnity insurance through the market. We are keeping the situation under review and working closely with HMT on this issue to determine the appropriate and most effective response for the sector within the public health context.

Events Industry: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussion he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on support for people working in the live event supply chain with previous operating profits of over £50,000 per year who are excluded from the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government recognises the significant challenge the current pandemic poses to the arts and creative sectors and to the many businesses, individuals and freelancers working across these industries. We are working very hard to help freelancers in those sectors access support, including through the Self Employment Income Support Scheme and funding from Arts Council England.Live Event Supply chain organisations have benefitted from economy-wide support that the Government has provided, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).The Government has announced that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will continue until September, with a fourth and fifth grant. Individuals will be able to qualify for the new grants based on their 2019-20 tax returns. This means that over 600,000 self-employed individuals may be newly eligible for the SEISS, including many new to self-employment in 2019-20.

Events Industry: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to encourage local authorities to provide financial support to live event supply chain businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government has introduced an unprecedented package of support for businesses that are required to close, or which are severely affected by the restrictions put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives. Supply chain organisations are recognised as a critical part of our sectors and were eligible to apply for the Culture Recovery Fund.The discretionary Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) forms part of a wider package of support for businesses that have been mandated to close and also had their trade adversely affected by the Covid-19 Restrictions. The guidance for ARG funding encourages Local Authorities to develop discretionary grant schemes to help those businesses which - while not legally forced to close - are nonetheless severely impacted by the restrictions put in place to control the spread of Covid-19.This could include - for example - businesses which supply the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, or businesses in the events sector. The guidance specifically refers to the live events sector. It is up to each local authority to determine eligibility for the ARG based on their assessment of local economic need; however, we encourage local authorities to support businesses which have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, but which are ineligible for the other grant schemes.

Charities: Coronavirus

Sarah Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support charities during the covid-19 outbreak.

Matt Warman: The Government has provided a multi-billion-pound package of Covid-19 support which charities and civil society organisations have been able to access to help them continue their vital work. Charities are benefiting from the extension of unprecedented cross-economy support including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans and £4.6 billion in lockdown grants for closed premises. In addition, charities, social enterprises and other voluntary sector organisations have received a £750 million targeted support package and £150 million unlocked from dormant bank and building society accounts.

Women and Equalities

Gender Recognition: Equality

Apsana Begum: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what meetings she has had to discuss trans rights with organisations that have specific services supporting trans people.

Kemi Badenoch: We want transgender people to be free to live and to prosper in modern Britain. Myself and the Equality Hub Ministerial team on equality issues engage with a range of organisations and stakeholders who support LGBT people and have specific services supporting trans people, including most recently Stonewall, UK Black Pride and the National LGBT Health Adviser, Dr Michael Brady.Officials in the Government Equalities Office also engage broadly with interested parties, feeding the insights gathered into policy advice. They regularly meet with LGBT organisations, for example most recently Galop and the LGBT Foundation, as well as devolved administrations and the National LGBT Health Advisor to discuss trans rights, amongst other issues.